Red Extensions of Me
Encyclopedia
Red Extensions of Me is the fifth official full-length release from Benn Jordan
as The Flashbulb.
This album seems to be driven by the aesthetic of drum n bass/jungle
theory, used to accentuate a particular focus on electric guitar
-controlled MIDI sequences written in a neo-classical metal
style. The last two tracks (Lucid Bass I and II) are straightforward drum n bass tracks, featuring a long, repetitive running time
and rhythm
and elements such as triggered samples of sleep therapy tapes during the breakdowns, the classic drum and bass rhythm, mandatory amen break
/Apache break chopping, looping, dreamy, pitchshifted synth passages and robust, heavy, droning sub-bass
lines.
As usual for Jordan, the track list of the album includes tracks that serve as short breaks from the main theme of the album, for example, short classical piano pieces ("In an Instant") or folk music
-esque acoustic guitar/singing tracks ("If Trees Could Speak"). This is the first album released by Jordan as The Flashbulb to feature outside musicians in the recordings. Despite all of this, however, the comparisons between his work and the work of his peers Tom Jenkinson and Richard D. James grew exponentially with the release of this album. It is a criticism that Jordan has fought since he was first branded with the label of a copycat with M³
. In particular, many parallels were drawn between this album and Squarepusher
's Ultravisitor
, because of Jenkinson's use of raw amen break chopping and "bass guitar
"-controlled MIDI sequences. Red Extensions of Me was released just before Ultravisitor, although promotional leaks of Ultravisitor first appeared several months before its release.
Benn Jordan
Benn Lee Jordan is an American modern jazz and electronica musician operating under many pseudonyms. Since 1999 his most widely distributed and eclectic music has been released under the name of The Flashbulb...
as The Flashbulb.
This album seems to be driven by the aesthetic of drum n bass/jungle
Jungle
A Jungle is an area of land in the tropics overgrown with dense vegetation.The word jungle originates from the Sanskrit word jangala which referred to uncultivated land. Although the Sanskrit word refers to "dry land", it has been suggested that an Anglo-Indian interpretation led to its...
theory, used to accentuate a particular focus on electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
-controlled MIDI sequences written in a neo-classical metal
Neo-classical metal
Neo-classical metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that is heavily influenced by classical music. It refers to a very technical performanceExact quote from the french text: "L'arrivée du néoclassique remet au goût du jour la virtuosité et le travail de l'instrument", « Les secrets du metal-...
style. The last two tracks (Lucid Bass I and II) are straightforward drum n bass tracks, featuring a long, repetitive running time
Running Time
Running Time may refer to:* Running Time * see Analysis of algorithms...
and rhythm
Rhythm
Rhythm may be generally defined as a "movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions." This general meaning of regular recurrence or pattern in time may be applied to a wide variety of cyclical natural phenomena having a periodicity or...
and elements such as triggered samples of sleep therapy tapes during the breakdowns, the classic drum and bass rhythm, mandatory amen break
Amen break
The Amen break is a brief drum solo performed in 1969 by Gregory Cylvester "G. C." Coleman in the song "Amen, Brother" performed by the 1960s funk and soul outfit The Winstons...
/Apache break chopping, looping, dreamy, pitchshifted synth passages and robust, heavy, droning sub-bass
Sub-bass
Sub-bass is a term used to describe audible sounds below 90 Hz and extending downward to include the lowest frequency humans can hear, typically 20 Hz. Sound systems often feature one or more subwoofer loudspeakers that are dedicated solely to amplifying sounds in the sub-bass range...
lines.
As usual for Jordan, the track list of the album includes tracks that serve as short breaks from the main theme of the album, for example, short classical piano pieces ("In an Instant") or folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
-esque acoustic guitar/singing tracks ("If Trees Could Speak"). This is the first album released by Jordan as The Flashbulb to feature outside musicians in the recordings. Despite all of this, however, the comparisons between his work and the work of his peers Tom Jenkinson and Richard D. James grew exponentially with the release of this album. It is a criticism that Jordan has fought since he was first branded with the label of a copycat with M³
M³ (album)
M³ is the first album from The Flashbulb . Stylistically, this album is very straightforward and Jordan's direct influences of fellow intelligent dance music artists such as Aphex Twin and Squarepusher are much more apparent than in subsequent releases.-Track listing:# "Porn Joke P" – 2:30# "Dance...
. In particular, many parallels were drawn between this album and Squarepusher
Squarepusher
Squarepusher is the performing pseudonym of Tom Jenkinson, an English electronic music artist signed to Warp Records. He specialises in the electronic music genres of drum and bass and acid, with a significant jazz and musique concrète influence....
's Ultravisitor
Ultravisitor
Ultravisitor is an album by Squarepusher. It was released on 8 March 2004 by Warp Records .Ultravisitor incorporates many of the various musical styles exhibited by Jenkinson on his previous albums, including drum and bass and acid techno, jazz fusion, and electronic noise. A few of the tracks...
, because of Jenkinson's use of raw amen break chopping and "bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
"-controlled MIDI sequences. Red Extensions of Me was released just before Ultravisitor, although promotional leaks of Ultravisitor first appeared several months before its release.
Track listing
- "In an Instant" – 2:02
- "Lawn Wake I" – 4:17
- "Lawn Wake II" – 3:11
- "Lawn Wake III" – 3:29
- "Sun Rise Jul" – 1:16
- "An External Frost" – 2:58
- "Planet Th" – 3:07
- "If Trees Could Speak" – 1:48
- "The Sun and the Star" – 2:25
- "Didj Z" – 1:54
- "Black Lawn Finale" – 4:25
- "Sensual Data" – 5:08
- "Never Remember January" – 2:36
- "Sunset Hamlin" – 2:35
- "Earthtone Morphine Battery" – 3:35
- "Eight Empty Beds" – 1:25
- "Lucid Bass I" – 7:56
- "Lucid Bass II" – 8:43
Personnel
- Benn Jordan – composerComposerA composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, performer, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Greg HirteGreg HirteGreg Hirte is a professional violinist based out of Chicago, Illinois.He performs with a handful of bands, including The Flashbulb, Mucca Pazza, Soundframe, and Mojo and the Bayou Gypsies. His violin performances have also appeared on many albums, most notably The Flashbulb's "Kirlian Selections",...
– violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....