Mokira
Dub, acid and ambient records dissolve into exclusive edits and improvisations, threaded with Stockholm rain and Bergman dialogue. Analog delay gives the shifting collage a continuous sense of depth and motion.
Listen to the mix
STM 044 is a sonorous music hybrid creation that fuses exclusively re-edited production by the author of a mix and such well-known musicians as Roly Porter, Rrose, Pole, Cio D’or, Love Joys and others. Smoothly integrated Scandinavian soundscape field-recordings and mysterious dialog cuts from Ingmar Bergman’s cinematic masterpiece are the next definite reasons to awake each of our observers attention.
The author of the mix is Andreas Tilliander (born 1977, Hässleholm), a Swedish producer, musician and sound artist, now residing in Stockholm. Prolific output and brilliant creativity gained Tilliander (known as LOWFOUR, Mokira, Andreas Tilliander, Komp and more) critically acclaimed achievements from the international glitch-techno community during the early 2000s. After the contribution to the evolution of the ‘clicks & cuts’ genre with his first albums “Cliphop” and “Ljud”, Tilliander has recorded more than 10 albums and many more singles for such honorable electronic music labels as Raster-Noton, Mille Plateaux, Type, iDEAL Recordings and others. In 2004 Andreas Tilliander has received a Swedish Grammy for his electro-infused pop experiments and actually he has got it twice. He is the owner of productive Repeatle Studios where adapts his solid mastering engineering skills to numerous record labels and individual music artists.
STM 044 is an enchanting audio collage that merges 14 vibrant records released between 1995 and 2012. Tilliander’s specially re-shaped personal creations and exclusive improvisations give more authenticity and interest to the whole recording. Korg Stage Echo as well as Roland Space Echo old audio analog delay effect units are gently used all over the mix. The basis stands on the constantly swinging ambiance, glittering distorted sound motives and often emerging liquid rhythmical patterns. Background is covered with intense glitches micro-activity, sparkling drone lines and unfolding echoing melodies. The lament and monologue fragments from the classic Ingmar Bergman film “Cries & Whispers”, some recordings of rain at Stockholm fill the wholeness with intrigue and vitality. Beside developing dub-techno, ambient, acid, experimental music styles the listener could hear even subtly inserted reggae song and blowing 50s love lullaby. High quality, sound flexibility, consistent and thoughtful building of emotional story makes this recording a chef-d’oeuvre that needs to be listened carefully for a couple times to absorb it completely.
Records and connections
STM 044 is like an influential Jackson Pollock abstract expressionistic drip painting “White Light” where effective contrast between black groundwork and occupied white horizon can be interpreted as Tilliander’s expression of cognition, hope, environment interpretation and emotional convulsions. Effect of balance, contrast, emphasis and movement in this recording should whirl the listener into Tilliander’s odd universe.
Sources and image credits
- Mokira — photo from the artist’s archive. Digitally restored.
- Original release artwork: Mokira — Time Axis Manipulation.
- Original release artwork: Roly Porter — Aftertime.
- Original release artwork: TM404 — TM404.
- Original release artwork: Rrose — Waterfall Variations.
