British Murder Boys

Since the first British Murder Boys (BMB) release, Surgeon and Regis have worked closely together, recording several more eps and performing live. The BMB releases blur the line between techno and the artists’ industrial and experimental roots, marrying off-kilter noises and submerged vocals with a strict rhythmical framework. Anthony Child, Birmingham techno artist Anthony Child has rapidly built a solid and, to a certain extent, innovative catalog of minimal dancefloor techno since his Surgeon releases began appearing in 1991.

Anthony Child (Surgeon)
Compared favorably with Detroit original Jeff Mills from his earliest Downwards singles on forward, Child’s tracks have been a mainstay in the popular Motor City DJ’s sets. Although Surgeon releases have worked an increasing affectation for acid and trance, an economy of sound and basic hardness combine his and Mills’ sound. A noted and increasingly popular DJ himself, Child grokked his skills from hip-hop and electro jocks (’Tour de France’ is a mainstay of his DJ sets), filling out his style with a driving toughness and appreciation for rapid cutting and flipping.

Surgeon’s entry into production was also noteworthy; urged on by producer Mick Harris (Child is a fan of Harris’ Scorn project), the former Napalm Death drummer locked Child in his tiny studio, imploring him to ‘go mad.’ The result, the self-titled debut EP, was released on Downwards, and was instantly hailed as some of the highest quality U.K. techno of its time. Releases for Soma, Blueprint, Ideal Trax, and the ultra-exclusive Tresor label followed, with the debut LP, Basic Tonal Vocabulary, appearing on Tresor in 1997. Balance followed in 1998, as did Force & Form in 1999. More recent additions to his repertoire include releases on his Counterbalance imprint as well as collaborations with Regis as British Murder Boys, resulting in tracks which take a tone far darker, denser, and more industrial than those from his Tresor years. Equally influenced by early electro-pop innovators like Tomita and YMO, experimental groups like Can, Faust, and Suicide, and the tough grit of American electro and techno (Robert Hood, Hashim), Surgeon’s mash-up is both straightforward and subtly experimental.

Further influences from Coil, Psychic TV, and Whitehouse in recent works and DJ appearences do not go unnoticed.

http://dj-surgeon.com

Karl O’Connor (Regis)
Is England`s reigning heir to the throne of electronic incognito. Influences for his strictly regional tastes lie scattered mostly among the early UK pioneersThrobbing Gristle, Robert Rental, Cabaret Voltaire, Fad Gadget and Wire with possibly even closer developmental ties to Germany`s sonic movements via Einstürzende Neubauten, D.A.F. and Liason Dangereuses (feat. Chrislo Haas).

Working solely within Britain`s arm of Industrial might and decay in the Birmingham borough of Halesowen, O`Connor and Peter Sutton (Female) launched Downwards Records in late 1993 with the debut Hostage (O`Connor/Sutton) and Surgeon releases to manic acclaim. Magnetic electronic thunder cut dark swathes through the big parties for the first time with O`Connor`s instantaneously recognizable black envelope of deep atmosphere and suffocating basslines.

Skillfully keeping looped Industrial elements well within musical realms became O`Connor`s forte and reputation with the early ‘Montreal’, ‘Application of Language’ and ‘We Said No’ twelve-inches. The worldwide reactions to his backcatalog triggered a renewed focus on serious UK Techno heralded by the Downwards imprint. Without being market-led, it was a fresh new statement and from raw talent, but most important for the sound was the unmistakable imprint of O`Connor`s hand in the art. In 1996, O`Connor`s progress reached crowning maturity with the Regis ‘Gymnastics’ album/double-twelve-inch; the penultimate signature of his raw and dynamic edge. The sound was the uniqueness that he had been searching for which encapsulated and forged the cornerstone of both his and the label`s identity. A deep-seated and vital root in the Birmingham Techno scene and sound, O`Connor`s hard minimal Techno is rife with subtle layers of complex textures, tones and loops.

Although closely linked to the fiercely independent core of Downwards producers (Surgeon, Female, Portion Reform and Regis), Karl O`Connor`s own sound and never-give-up DIY success has kept Downwards well-respected while in the limelight and more importantly, without getting burned by it.In his characteristically unfailing dedication to music, O`Connor set up the Integrale Muzique distribution company in 1996 with partners Antonio Soares-vieira (Raoul Delgardo) and Peter Sutton. O`Connor captained the label with further album releases by Surgeon, Female, and Portion Reform while continuing to play live throughout Europe and America. A relatively ‘quiet’ 1997 further stabilized Integrale and led up to the second Regis double-pack ‘Delivered Into the Hands of Indifference’ (1998) and his first recordings for Tresor (’The Theme From Streetwalker’ and ‘Guiltless’) all of which displayed more subtle tone and texture usages within his still uncomprimising and equally unique, multi-layered production style.’The myth is greater than what I`ve actually put out.’ - Regis (Magic Feet 7.98)Both playing out ritualistic last rites in the final temple with tribal magic and chanting. Lifting the veil of mystique for 2000, O`Connor and Peter Sutton have recorded ‘Againstnature’ in their first-ever album/double-pack outside of Downwards. Demarcating the return to their Industrial roots, the forge and the welding torch play much more significantly than traditional electronics as they are now known. Chaos with underlying structure more than ‘tracks’. The Downwards and O`Connor stronghouses continue to remain unmoved among the many fashions and backlashes. Those with the Understanding remain an almost secret society of devotees in the UK and abroad. Shirking conforming compromise and defying media darling status never sounded so good.

http://www.downwards.info