Drain Mode = ON
Encyclopedia
Drain Mode = ON is one of many stopgap EP
releases in between albums from Benn Jordan
as The Flashbulb.
This EP
is interesting for several reasons. First, along with the free, online FLY! EP
, Drain Mode = ON acts as a bridge between two very different albums by The Flashbulb, M³
and These Open Fields
, employing a more evolved sound and technique, at least equipment-wise, if not conceptually. Secondly, the short release is quite a bit of fun, displaying Jordan
stretching out and getting more comfortable as The Flashbulb, and trying out absurd things like a joking Jazz
scat singing
style in Loose Jazz X, the loosely constructed ambience of My Summer Tinsle and a very unconventional use of the didgeridoo
in Didj X. (This is something he would employ again in Red Extensions of Me
with the track Didj Z, as well as a few other releases.)
The track Stinger has since become a live favorite for several years now.
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
releases in between albums from Benn Jordan
Benn Jordan
Benn Lee Jordan is an American modern jazz and electronica musician operating under many pseudonyms. Since 1999 his most widely distributed and eclectic music has been released under the name of The Flashbulb...
as The Flashbulb.
This EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
is interesting for several reasons. First, along with the free, online FLY! EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Drain Mode = ON acts as a bridge between two very different albums by The Flashbulb, M³
M³ (album)
M³ is the first album from The Flashbulb . Stylistically, this album is very straightforward and Jordan's direct influences of fellow intelligent dance music artists such as Aphex Twin and Squarepusher are much more apparent than in subsequent releases.-Track listing:# "Porn Joke P" – 2:30# "Dance...
and These Open Fields
These Open Fields
These Open Fields is the second official full-length release from Chicago intelligent dance music artist The Flashbulb . The album displays a significant maturation from the first release, M³. The album has a central theme, unlike the playful experimentation of M³...
, employing a more evolved sound and technique, at least equipment-wise, if not conceptually. Secondly, the short release is quite a bit of fun, displaying Jordan
Benn Jordan
Benn Lee Jordan is an American modern jazz and electronica musician operating under many pseudonyms. Since 1999 his most widely distributed and eclectic music has been released under the name of The Flashbulb...
stretching out and getting more comfortable as The Flashbulb, and trying out absurd things like a joking 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...
scat singing
Scat singing
In vocal jazz, scat singing is vocal improvisation with wordless vocables, nonsense syllables or without words at all. Scat singing gives singers the ability to sing improvised melodies and rhythms, to create the equivalent of an instrumental solo using their voice.- Structure and syllable choice...
style in Loose Jazz X, the loosely constructed ambience of My Summer Tinsle and a very unconventional use of the didgeridoo
Didgeridoo
The didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia around 1,500 years ago and still in widespread usage today both in Australia and around the world. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe"...
in Didj X. (This is something he would employ again in Red Extensions of Me
Red Extensions of Me
Red Extensions of Me is the fifth official full-length release from Benn Jordan as The Flashbulb.This album seems to be driven by the aesthetic of drum n bass/jungle theory, used to accentuate a particular focus on electric guitar-controlled MIDI sequences written in a neo-classical metal style...
with the track Didj Z, as well as a few other releases.)
The track Stinger has since become a live favorite for several years now.
Track listing
- Beunip – 1:00
- Stinger – 2:15
- Every Two Days – 2:30
- Loose Jazz X – 1:38
- Drain Mode On – 3:02
- My Summer Tinsle – 3:31
- Didj X – 1:31