Arcon 2
Encyclopedia
Arcon 2 or Leon Mar, real name Noel Ram, is a musician
best known for his alternately jazz
y and uplifting drum'n'bass
and extreme, focused darkcore
. He has been producing dance tracks for the better part of a decade. At first little known in the jungle
community (though his roots, like many of jungle proper's biggest names, lay firmly in hardcore
), Noel rode a fast track to notoriety through a string of acclaimed releases for 4Hero's
noted Reinforced label, recording such tracks as "Liquid Earth," "Silent Running," and "The Beckoning" under his own name and as Arcon 2. Noel was also included on the tough-as-nails Reinforced compilation, Above the Law next to such noted artists as Goldie
, L Double, and Dillinja
.
Although Noel's earlier Reinforced material, as well as a scattering of tracks and remixes for Echo Drop and Selector mined a softer, more fusion-fueled vibe, Noel's work since "The Beckoning" (also Reinforced's first CD-EP) has tended toward the dark'n'hard, with thick, warbling bass set against snapping breaks
and ominous atmospheres.
Released toward the end of 1996, "The Beckoning" in particular cemented Noel's name as One to Watch in the 9-7, and subsequent work (including a jaw-dropping remix for Neotropic's Riz Maslen
on her 15 Levels EP, as well as a pair of mixes on the Future Sound of London's "We Have Explosive" maxi and the first non-FSOL release on the latter's Electronic Brain Violence label) proved as much; Noel nailed a recording deal with Warner Bros.
in 1997 and released his self-titled first album later that year.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
best known for his alternately jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
y and uplifting drum'n'bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
and extreme, focused darkcore
Darkcore
Darkcore is a subgenre of jungle that became popular in the United Kingdom hardcore rave scene in late 1992. It is recognized as being one of the direct precursors of the genre now known as drum and bass...
. He has been producing dance tracks for the better part of a decade. At first little known in the jungle
Oldschool jungle
Jungle is a genre of electronic music that incorporates influences from genres including breakbeat hardcore, and reggae/dub/dancehall. There is debate as to whether jungle is a separate genre from drum and bass as many use the terms interchangeably...
community (though his roots, like many of jungle proper's biggest names, lay firmly in hardcore
Hardcore techno
Hardcore techno is a type of electronic music typified by the rhythmic use of distorted and atonal industrial-like beats and samples...
), Noel rode a fast track to notoriety through a string of acclaimed releases for 4Hero's
4 Hero
4hero are an electronic music band from Dollis Hill, northwest London, comprising producers Mark "Marc Mac" Clair & Dennis "Dego" McFarlane. While the band is often cited as "4 Hero" or "4-Hero", the name is presented as "4hero" on their own albums and websites.4hero are known as early pioneers of...
noted Reinforced label, recording such tracks as "Liquid Earth," "Silent Running," and "The Beckoning" under his own name and as Arcon 2. Noel was also included on the tough-as-nails Reinforced compilation, Above the Law next to such noted artists as Goldie
Goldie
Clifford Joseph Price, better known as Goldie is an English electronic music artist, disc jockey, visual artist and actor. He is well known for his innovations in the jungle and drum and bass music genres, having previously gained exposure for his work as a graffiti artist...
, L Double, and Dillinja
Dillinja
Dillinja, is an English drum and bass DJ, record producer and entrepreneur.-History:...
.
Although Noel's earlier Reinforced material, as well as a scattering of tracks and remixes for Echo Drop and Selector mined a softer, more fusion-fueled vibe, Noel's work since "The Beckoning" (also Reinforced's first CD-EP) has tended toward the dark'n'hard, with thick, warbling bass set against snapping breaks
Break (music)
In popular music, a break is an instrumental or percussion section or interlude during a song derived from or related to stop-time – being a "break" from the main parts of the song or piece....
and ominous atmospheres.
Released toward the end of 1996, "The Beckoning" in particular cemented Noel's name as One to Watch in the 9-7, and subsequent work (including a jaw-dropping remix for Neotropic's Riz Maslen
Riz Maslen
Riz Maslen is an English electronic music artist. During the mid 90's she worked with 4hero and Future Sound of London. After playing keyboards for The Beloved, she took out a loan, built a home studio and created her first albums there. In 1995 she signed as Neotropic under Ntone and soon after as...
on her 15 Levels EP, as well as a pair of mixes on the Future Sound of London's "We Have Explosive" maxi and the first non-FSOL release on the latter's Electronic Brain Violence label) proved as much; Noel nailed a recording deal with Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
in 1997 and released his self-titled first album later that year.
Discography
- Liquid Earth (12") Reinforced Records 1996
- The Beckoning (12") Reinforced Records 1996
- Arcon 2 (CD, Album) Reinforced Records 1997
- Liquid Earth (CD) Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) 1997
- Neut / Shock (12") Reinforced Records 1997
- The Beckoning EP (CD, Maxi) Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) 1997
- Zorak / 90/90 (12")
As Leon Mar
- Rezurrection / Passing Phases (12") Creative Wrkz
- Release the Love / Silent Running (12") Reinforced Records 1996
- Running (12")
As Torus
- Fuse / Shift (12") Reinforced Records 1997
- Perspective / Contours (12") Reinforced Records 1997
- Vibe / Re-Vamp (12") Reinforced Records