À Electraumatisme, ce qui continue de nous motiver est de découvrir de nouveaux projets directement ancrés dans nos styles préférés et d'espérer continuer à les voir sortir de nouveaux albums et progresser jusqu'à une légitime reconnaissance. C'est le cas de Purity+Control, qui, à l'occasion de la sortie de leur EP éponyme (j'ai bon EBMnator ? :) ) nous gratifient de leurs recettes pour la production de leurs morceaux, privilégiant une approche matérielle mais minimaliste, "sur le vif", qui donne vraiment envie de faire pareil à la maison. Pas garanti que l'on aboutisse à un résultat aussi convaicant que le leur ceci dit.
What motivates us the most at Electraumatisme is to discover new projects directly settled in our favorite styles and hoping to see them release new albums, to progress until a reasonable recognition. It's the case for Purity+Control who, on the occasion of their first self-titled EP, reward us with their receipes used to produce their tracks, favouring a hardware but minimalist approach, "captured live", that really makes us want to do the same at home. But no guaranty we would reach the same quality level as they did that said.
Gears and software
What gears/softwares did you use for your self-titled EP ?
Our main DAW is Propellerhead Reason. We also extensively use outboard gear such as Korg MS20, Arturia Microbrute, Novation Bass Station 2, Korg Monologue, Korg Volca Beats, Korg Volca Drum, Meeblip Anode, Korg Electribe 2 sampler, Roland JD-X and Kawai K1M.
Also pedal chains. A lot of sound design on the release comes from the synths listed above routed to various FX pedal chains. EHX Big Muff, Boss Tera Echo, TC Hall of Fame Reverb and TC Flashback delay are just some of the pedals we use regularly.
We also use samplers/grooveboxes such as the aforementioned Electribe, Roland SP404SX and Tascam Portastudio DP-006.
Your favorite gear(s)/software(s) ?
We use hardware modern analogue synths a lot for our songwriting and sound design. Korg MS20, Novation Bass Station, Korg Monologue, Korg Volca Drum (tiny but powerful) are some of our favorites. Especially with FX pedal processing and digital post-processing in DAW.
Any evolution in your setup ?
Since we started in 2017, we have moved to “jam-centric” songwriting and production where we would set-up basic setups with a drum machine (Korg Electribe 2 sampler, Volca Drum etc) and a synth or two and just jam out to eventually shape our output into songs. For playing live we started with a laptop-centric setup, but switched to sampler-based live setup with Roland SP-404SX and a few layers of synthesizers. Sometimes we add a live playback on Tascam Portastudio DP-006 for additional live layers. That Sp-404SX is really versatile and amazing for live setups!
Sound Design
Do you use/tweak presets ?
We do use modded presets and also write our own patches both in DAW and hardware. In hardware we tend to create patches from scratch.
Do you design you own sound ? On which synth/plugin in particular ?
Yes we do on all the synths we mentioned above. MS20 routed into FX pedals and layered/processed in DAW is amazing for that purpose. You can hear these layers on our song “Sectors.” We also use Korg Monopoly and Polysix Reason rack extension plugins and write most patches on them from scratch. Along with many other Reason’s rack extensions especially for digital processing.
Any particular synth history ?
Don’t know why exactly it is, but MS20 is basically an endless synth. Sometimes, when getting stuck, diving into MS20 and its semi-modular matrix gets that inspiration flowing again! Especially while using it with pedals for weirder more cosmic layered sound and using the trick where you route the Square LFO output into the sequence input for unusual endless self-sequencing on the routing matrix!
Writing/composing method
What
would be your main writing/composing method ? Do you start classical
rythm/bassline then arrange around it ? Do you already have structure in
mind ? Do you improvise, record sessions then select ? ...
Most of the material on our self-titled EP is written and arranged mostly in DAW. And yes, we wrote a bunch of it by sequencing drums and basslines together and layering up from there then assembling song structures. Again, since we started in 2017, we have moved to “jam-centric” songwriting and production where we would set-up basic setups with a drum machine (Korg Electribe 2 sampler, Volca Drum etc) and a synth or two and just jam out to eventually shape our output into songs.
Producing/mixing method
Do you produce/mix in the box or do you use mainly external gears (effect/comp/eq...)
Over the years we have adopted a hardwave-centric and jam-centric songwriting process. A lot of excellent and unexpected moments can happen in the heat of a moment while jamming on fairly minimal setups.
However, final production does happen in the DAW project where we “assemble” the track before mixing and mastering.
What is your most painful / enjoyable step in track production ? Sound design, arrangement, mixing, mastering ?
Most enjoyable and interesting are discovering cool patches, sounds, sequences, loops, progressions and other pieces and writing in the heat of the moment while jamming. Also coming up with a cool beat/FX loop/synth loop while experimenting with laptop DAW at a cafe, bar or a coffee shop. Most painful is definitely final minor mixing touch-ups and deciding that the song/material/album is “complete” enough, haha!
Purity+Control's tips
Sometimes, it is best to jam out and play with synths and sounds with no clear expectations of “finished” song product. Getting lost in the ocean of jamming and sound design just for the sake of it. Timing yourself for 10, 15, 20 minutes and just jamming out! This is a good way to regroup and keep inspiration flowing.
Contact info
#puritypluscontrol #puritycontrolebm
FB: https://www.facebook.com/puritycontrolebm
Bandcamp: https://purity-control.bandcamp.com/
