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 nathan fake session
 to access audio and video on collective you need real player.The genuine article. For years now, kids have been tooled-up to create music in their bedrooms. But all that increased opportunity for creativity has not yielded as much as you might expect. Sure, The Streets made his UK garage pop on a home set-up and countless dance/grime/hip-hop producers are churning out great beats and bleeps to feed our dancefloors and head-nodders. But few have approached that celebrated dynasty of British electronic musicians such as Aphex, Boards Of Canada and more recently Four Tet, who have managed to deliver both the sound fetishism and the emotional depth that makes electronic music transcend its natural fanbase. Twenty-two-year-old Nathan Fake is knocking on that door though, and he is your archetypal bedroom boy – needing just a laptop, a penchant for Mogwai and My Bloody Valentine, and half a degree in Music Technology to get there. “I’m always writing stuff at home, it’s what I do,” he says matter-of-factly. “If I worked in a studio somewhere, the act of having to go there would make it less comfortable. For me it’s just a computer and a Casio keyboard. It’s all I’ve ever used”.  Still's from Nathan's visuals by Vincent Oliver. Nathan’s reputation was made in dance circles last year with a pair of techno singles and a corking mix of The Sky Was Pink by his Border Community label boss, James Holden. Lo-fi synths, soaring digital feedback and a woomping bottom-end destroyed dancefloors and perked up the ears of many a pundit (Nathan appeared in The Observer’s 2006 talent list). But techno was never the plan for his debut album. “I like making that kind of music, but for an album I don’t think it really works. An album has to flow together as one piece of music.” And Drowning In A Sea Of Love certainly flows, like a ship on perilous seas, from one momentous wave of euphoria to another. His influences are laid bare, from Mogwai’s walls of sound to Four Tet’s glitches and intricate loops, but it’s the innocent melodies and nostalgic, pastoral vibe to Nathan’s sound that makes it, well, nice. “The album has a sound that’s quite old I guess. It’s not pristine electronic music; it sounds quite rough in places, organic, a bit rocky and a bit twinkly.” Indeed, if Boards Of Canada had gone epic they may have sounded like this.  For the full effect of Nathan’s vibe see him live with his pal Vincent Oliver on visuals. It’s a trip that’s beyond your average VJ fest. “VJ-ing is a bit vague - just people mucking about on a laptop - but this is stuff specifically made for the tracks.” Nathan breaks his shyness for the first time: “What we’re doing is a joint show, Vincent is performing as well. Even though it’s not a dancey set it’s quite intense and fun to watch.” Psychedelic? Definitely. Hallucinogenic? Certainly. Substance induced? Apparently not. A bedroom and a computer is all that’s required.
Alastair Lee
Nathan Fake - Drowning In A Sea Of Love, released 20 March 06 on Border Community.
 comments
Read members' comments related to this music.
comment by powell931
Feb 16, 2008
I downloaded drowning in a sea of love and it sounded really big and soaring and it makes you think of big open spaces and huge skies, then i read somewhere that he's from Norfolk and thats just what the music is like- the big flat landscape as opposed to the little seaside towns- i think when music can make you think of somewhere that vividly it must be good
comment by nickraw1
Jan 4, 2007
to bigfrieds comment:no bless you, even if it goes nowhere else 'drowning' will still be one of the most important cds in my collection - I spent my 22nd yr with my head up skint's arse & one hand on a sampler - i haven't got much further since - i've been bangin away at my stuff for years and i haven't come close to this, not sure how much u know about production but its impossible to explain how difficult it is to achieve texture like this, let the bubble burst & see what happens - at least nathan got far enough for us to be here talkin about him, If this is so wrong lets hear yours....
comment by weshayden
Nov 20, 2006
I can proudly say that Ive been "lucky" enough to witness Nathan doing his thing LIVE (alongside his mate Oliver controlling the visuals) at Magnet Bar in Liverpool, so with this I can actually comment on it, I will hold good memories from that night due to the music he played, the atmoshpere he brought with him and his genuine down to earthness on havng the time to speak to me my mate and my mates girlfriend after he finished his set.I cant possibly make any comparisons between Nathans music as I truthfully havent heard anything like it before, Im a massive fan of what he does and am lucky to own many of his tracks and remixes on vinyl.His Album along with his Radio 1 essential mix are still 2 of my favourite cds! That is all xxxx
comment by bubblegumshallow
May 3, 2006
To all the Haters : Superb music (just like crap music)can be made through any medium,be it ableton, a cheap casio,a guitar,or a full on chamber orchestra...whatever - what counts is ingenuity,an honest passion for the music you create and charisma in perfoming that music.These are the essential elements which Nathan Fake (and Vincent Oliver) not only possess,but also have a natural flair for invoking in a collective psyche of their audience.This is why they are fast becoming so popular.its not a secret.Its also no secret that those who have no talent or even the initative to attempt thier own creative processes frequently take "comfort" in writing acrid remarks about those who do.Next time instead of trashing someones art or music simply because it does not appeal to you,why not create something better yourself?
comment by bigfried
Apr 9, 2006
Why don't they get a higher table then they won't have to lean over so much - poor loves.Read the hype - watched the video....oh dear.... [sound of bursting bubbles]
comment by vincentoliver
Apr 4, 2006
i do have a totally original setup and totally original material.
comment by adam-o
Mar 25, 2006
further, if vincent claimed to be a groundbreaking VJ with a totally original setup and totally original material, then you might have a leg to stand on, but he doesn't at all, so you dont at all...
comment by adam-o
Mar 25, 2006
i fail to see this direct connection between nathan fake and boards of canada and i also fail to see the problem with using ableton live visual effects, last time i checked, they was designed to be used...using the knowledge that nathan is a big boards of canada fan to draw a lazy comparison between him and them only shows what a jaded and predisposed attitude you have towards both the artists. if nathan fake sounds like boards of canada, then fennesz sounds like chris clark and you may aswell give up on music. it issst what it issst, so if you are taking the time to needlessly slag off somebodies brainchild, it shows that you are missing the point altogether. as stanley said, if you dont like it, change the channel...
comment by Stanley_Pain
Mar 24, 2006
michrid: that's a fairly ignorant comment on a number of levels.i suppose jimi hendrix is rubbish for using an electric guitar, simply because it's not the latest technology available... so what if he's using ableton? it's good music. if you don't like it, change the channel. otherwise your comment just wreaks of bitterness and people take you for a fool. as it is, i happen to know that he uses more than just ableton, including programming his own synths. but all that aside, if he was using fruityloops version 3.4 i'd still like his music.
comment by olifjordmorgarna
Mar 21, 2006
I feel nathan and vincents work is far too underrated on this board. Its obvious their doing something right if you look into Nathans work. Michrid, I smell BS and its eminating directly from your comment. Word vincent I do like your visual worg, very complementary.
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