Mike Paradinas
Encyclopedia
Michael Paradinas who works primarily under the name μ
-Ziq in addition to a large number of aliases, is a British
musician
in the field of electronic music
.
and began playing keyboards
during the early '80s and listened to new wave
bands like The Human League
and Heaven 17
. He joined a few bands in the mid-'80s, then spent eight years on keyboards for the group Blue Innocence.
During this period, Paradinas had been recording on his own as well with synthesizers and a four-track recorder. In 1995, following a performance at "The Orange" in London, Blue Innocence broke up. Paradinas and the bassist, Francis Naughton, bought sequencing software and re-recorded some of Paradinas' older tracks. After the material was played for Mark Pritchard
and Tom Middleton
— the duo behind Global Communication
, who were also the heads of Evolution Records
— it was to be released; however, recording commitments later forced Pritchard and Middleton to withdraw their agreement. Fortunately for Paradinas, Richard D. James (aka Aphex Twin
) had also heard the tracks and agreed to release their music on Rephlex Records
under the alias μ-Ziq.
Naughton then left μ-Ziq to start Rocket Goldstar. A second album Bluff Limbo
was scheduled to be released in mid-1994, though only 1000 copies were released. It was re-issued by Rephlex in 1996 after Paradinas served papers on the label. Paradinas' first major-label release came later in 1994, after he undertook a remix project for Virgin Records
. The remix
EP
The Auteurs Vs μ-Ziq
for the britpop
band the Auteurs
was this project. The remixes Paradinas offered sounded nothing like the original song, a familiar practice for many experimental electronic musicians in those times.
Even though the EP was hardly a high sales category, Virgin signed Paradinas to a hefty contract and gave him his own sublabel, Planet Mu, to release his own work and develop similar-minded artists. (Paradinas later broke Virgin and in 1998 established Planet Mu
as his own independent label.) Written into his own contract was a provision for unlimited recording under different names, and during 1995 Paradinas definitely took it to task: he unveiled three aliases and released many albums in less than a year's time. The neo-electro music label Clear released his debut single as Tusken Raiders (named after the Star Wars
species) early in the year. Clear also released the first Paradinas alias full-length, Jake Slazenger MakesARacket, later in 1995. Although they were still audible, the LP ignored the electro influences in favor of some synthesizer figures and the previously unheard influence of jazz-funk
. Paradinas continued to release solo albums under the mentioned names as well as Gary Moscheles, and a one-time collaboration with Aphex Twin
under the Mike & Rich
moniker. He has been said to be the "Godfather" of annoying garbage. His style has been criticized as being "...the sound that a down's syndrome toddler would produce if he were to be locked in a concrete bunker with nothing more than a drum machine, a Bach
record, a bottle of Potter's Gin and a hand gun."
In 1997 Paradinas made a style change again, mixing experimental electronic music with drum'n'bass, a similar aesthetic taken in by Squarepusher
and Aphex Twin
. During this year he was also touring with popular musician Björk
. Björk inspired the following 1999 album Royal Astronomy
with its mixture of bizarre vocals, strings and breakbeat. All of his albums until 2003 were released in the USA on the more mainstream label, Astralwerks
.
Paradinas is the owner of the Planet Mu label
, which hosts cult favorite electronic musicians such as Venetian Snares
, Capitol K
, Datach'i
and Luke Vibert
.
Mu (letter)
Carlos Alberto Vives Restrepo is a Grammy Award and three-time Latin Grammy Award winning-Colombian singer, composer and actor.-Biography:...
-Ziq in addition to a large number of aliases, is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
musician
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....
in the field of electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
.
History
Paradinas was born in Charing CrossCharing Cross
Charing Cross denotes the junction of Strand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street, just south of Trafalgar Square in central London, England. It is named after the now demolished Eleanor cross that stood there, in what was once the hamlet of Charing. The site of the cross is now occupied by an equestrian...
and began playing keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
during the early '80s and listened to new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
bands like The Human League
The Human League
The Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
and Heaven 17
Heaven 17
Heaven 17 are an English synthpop band originating from Sheffield in the early 1980s. The trio comprises Martyn Ware , Ian Craig Marsh and Glenn Gregory...
. He joined a few bands in the mid-'80s, then spent eight years on keyboards for the group Blue Innocence.
During this period, Paradinas had been recording on his own as well with synthesizers and a four-track recorder. In 1995, following a performance at "The Orange" in London, Blue Innocence broke up. Paradinas and the bassist, Francis Naughton, bought sequencing software and re-recorded some of Paradinas' older tracks. After the material was played for Mark Pritchard
Mark Pritchard (music producer)
Mark Pritchard is an electronic music producer and DJ from Sydney, Australia. Born in Yeovil, United Kingdom, he has released music on the labels Warp Records, Hyperdub, Dedicated and Sonar Kollektiv amongst others...
and Tom Middleton
Tom Middleton
Tom Middleton is a prolific British recording artist, music producer, remixer and DJ.A classically trained pianist and cellist, Middleton worked in the early 1990s with Richard D. James , co-producing "En-Trance To Exit" on the Analogue Bubblebath EP for Exeter's influential Mighty Force Records...
— the duo behind Global Communication
Global Communication
Global Communication is an electronic music act, composed of Tom Middleton and Mark Pritchard. Their debut LP, 76:14 is one of the most acclaimed albums from the ambient music genre and from 1990s electronic music in general....
, who were also the heads of Evolution Records
Evolution Records
Evolution Records was a record label operated by the Stereo Dimension Records subsidiary of the Longines Symphonette Society, a unit of the Longines watch company...
— it was to be released; however, recording commitments later forced Pritchard and Middleton to withdraw their agreement. Fortunately for Paradinas, Richard D. James (aka Aphex Twin
Aphex Twin
Richard David James , best known under the pseudonym Aphex Twin, is an Irish-born electronic musician and composer described as "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music"...
) had also heard the tracks and agreed to release their music on Rephlex Records
Rephlex Records
Rephlex Records is a record label started in 1991 by electronic musician Richard D. James and Grant Wilson-Claridge. Rephlex coined the term braindance to describe the otherwise uncategorisable output of Aphex Twin and Rephlex Records...
under the alias μ-Ziq.
Naughton then left μ-Ziq to start Rocket Goldstar. A second album Bluff Limbo
Bluff Limbo
Bluff Limbo is the second album of British IDM Producer µ-Ziq and the follow-up to Tango N' Vectif.-Disc one:# "Hector's House" – 4:26# "Commemorative Pasta" – 4:37# "Gob Bots" – 4:50# "The Wheel" – 6:15# "27" – 1:18# "Metal Thing #3" – 5:51...
was scheduled to be released in mid-1994, though only 1000 copies were released. It was re-issued by Rephlex in 1996 after Paradinas served papers on the label. Paradinas' first major-label release came later in 1994, after he undertook a remix project for Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. The remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
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...
The Auteurs Vs μ-Ziq
The Auteurs Vs µ-Ziq
The Auteurs vs. μ-Ziq is a remix EP from British intelligent dance music producer μ-Ziq . It was released October 1994, on Hut Records in the UK then released as μ-Ziq vs. the Auteurs on Astralwerks in the US during February 1995...
for the britpop
Britpop
Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...
band the Auteurs
The Auteurs
The Auteurs were a British alternative rock band of the 1990s, and a vehicle for the songwriting talents of Luke Haines .-Career:...
was this project. The remixes Paradinas offered sounded nothing like the original song, a familiar practice for many experimental electronic musicians in those times.
Even though the EP was hardly a high sales category, Virgin signed Paradinas to a hefty contract and gave him his own sublabel, Planet Mu, to release his own work and develop similar-minded artists. (Paradinas later broke Virgin and in 1998 established Planet Mu
Planet Mu
Planet Mu is an electronic music record label run by Mike Paradinas . It was based in Worcester until March 2007, then moved to London and has recently relocated to Broadstairs, Kent...
as his own independent label.) Written into his own contract was a provision for unlimited recording under different names, and during 1995 Paradinas definitely took it to task: he unveiled three aliases and released many albums in less than a year's time. The neo-electro music label Clear released his debut single as Tusken Raiders (named after the Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
species) early in the year. Clear also released the first Paradinas alias full-length, Jake Slazenger MakesARacket, later in 1995. Although they were still audible, the LP ignored the electro influences in favor of some synthesizer figures and the previously unheard influence of jazz-funk
Jazz-funk
Jazz-funk is a sub-genre of jazz music characterized by a strong back beat , electrified sounds, and often, the presence of the first electronic analog synthesizers...
. Paradinas continued to release solo albums under the mentioned names as well as Gary Moscheles, and a one-time collaboration with Aphex Twin
Aphex Twin
Richard David James , best known under the pseudonym Aphex Twin, is an Irish-born electronic musician and composer described as "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music"...
under the Mike & Rich
Mike & Rich
Mike & Rich is an ambient-techno album by Mike Paradinas and Richard D. James. It was released in 1996 on Rephlex Records. The album is also known as Expert Knob Twiddlers....
moniker. He has been said to be the "Godfather" of annoying garbage. His style has been criticized as being "...the sound that a down's syndrome toddler would produce if he were to be locked in a concrete bunker with nothing more than a drum machine, a Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
record, a bottle of Potter's Gin and a hand gun."
In 1997 Paradinas made a style change again, mixing experimental electronic music with drum'n'bass, a similar aesthetic taken in by Squarepusher
Squarepusher
Squarepusher is the performing pseudonym of Tom Jenkinson, an English electronic music artist signed to Warp Records. He specialises in the electronic music genres of drum and bass and acid, with a significant jazz and musique concrète influence....
and Aphex Twin
Aphex Twin
Richard David James , best known under the pseudonym Aphex Twin, is an Irish-born electronic musician and composer described as "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music"...
. During this year he was also touring with popular musician Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
. Björk inspired the following 1999 album Royal Astronomy
Royal Astronomy
Royal Astronomy is the fifth album from British IDM Producer µ-Ziq and follow up to Lunatic Harness.-Track listing:#"Scaling" – 4:14#"The Hwicci Song" – 3:40#"Autumn Acid" – 3:42#"Slice" – 4:41#"Carpet Muncher" – 3:00...
with its mixture of bizarre vocals, strings and breakbeat. All of his albums until 2003 were released in the USA on the more mainstream label, Astralwerks
Astralwerks
Astralwerks is a New York-based record label that releases primarily electronic music. It is owned by Virgin Records/EMI and distributed by Caroline Distribution in the United States....
.
Paradinas is the owner of the Planet Mu label
Planet Mu
Planet Mu is an electronic music record label run by Mike Paradinas . It was based in Worcester until March 2007, then moved to London and has recently relocated to Broadstairs, Kent...
, which hosts cult favorite electronic musicians such as Venetian Snares
Venetian Snares
Venetian Snares is the main performing alias of Canadian electronic musician Aaron Funk .From Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Funk is known for making electronic music often in odd numbered time signatures...
, Capitol K
Capitol K
Capitol K is the name under which Kristian Craig Robinson works as a musician combining electronica, found sounds and indie-pop. Born in Malta and raised in Dubai, Brunei and England, and now based in London, Capitol K is best known for the single Pillow which scraped into the top 100 UK Singles...
, Datach'i
Datach'i
Datach'i is the pseudonym of Joseph Fraioli, an electronic musician based in New York City. Datach'i's music places an emphasis on complex drum programming and elaborate timing.-Biography:...
and Luke Vibert
Luke Vibert
Luke Vibert is a British recording artist and producer known for his work in many subgenres of electronic music. Vibert began his musical career as a member of the Hate Brothers, only later branching out into his own compositions...
.
Albums
- Tango n' VectifTango N' VectifTango n' Vectif is the debut album of British IDM Producer µ-Ziq. It was re-released in 2001 as a Double CD with additional tracks that were on the original vinyl release. The cover photo of the original release was taken by Richard D. James...
(1993) - Bluff LimboBluff LimboBluff Limbo is the second album of British IDM Producer µ-Ziq and the follow-up to Tango N' Vectif.-Disc one:# "Hector's House" – 4:26# "Commemorative Pasta" – 4:37# "Gob Bots" – 4:50# "The Wheel" – 6:15# "27" – 1:18# "Metal Thing #3" – 5:51...
(1994) - In Pine EffectIn Pine EffectIn Pine Effect is the third album from British IDM Producer µ-Ziq and follow up to Bluff Limbo.-Track listing:#"Roy Castle" – 6:41#"Within a Sound" – 6:05#"Old Fun #1" – 7:04#"Dauphine" – 6:37#"Funky Pipecleaner" – 6:49#"Iced Jem" – 6:03...
(1995) - Lunatic HarnessLunatic HarnessLunatic Harness is the fourth album by British intelligent dance music producer µ-Ziq. It was released on 30 June 1997 in the UK on the Planet Mu label, and on 29 July 1997 in the U.S. on the Astralwerks label. It is the follow-up to In Pine Effect...
(1997) - Royal AstronomyRoyal AstronomyRoyal Astronomy is the fifth album from British IDM Producer µ-Ziq and follow up to Lunatic Harness.-Track listing:#"Scaling" – 4:14#"The Hwicci Song" – 3:40#"Autumn Acid" – 3:42#"Slice" – 4:41#"Carpet Muncher" – 3:00...
(1999) - Bilious PathsBilious PathsBilious Paths is the sixth album from British IDM Producer µ-Ziq and follow up to Royal Astronomy.-Track listing:# "Johnny Mastricht" – 4:12# "Meinheld" – 3:39# "Siege of Antioch" – 4:16# "Octelcogopod" – 4:48# "On/Off" – 3:44# "Silk Ties" – 4:25...
(2003) - Duntisbourne Abbots Soulmate Devastation TechniqueDuntisbourne Abbots Soulmate Devastation TechniqueDuntisbourne Abbots Soulmate Devastation Technique is the seventh album from British IDM producer µ-Ziq and follow up to Bilious Paths.-Track listing:All tracks by µ-ziq except where noted# "Prongh Seemness" - 3:08# "Duntisbourne Abbots" - 2:01...
(2007)
EPs
- Phi*1700 (U/V) (1994)
- The Auteurs Vs μ-ZiqThe Auteurs Vs µ-ZiqThe Auteurs vs. μ-Ziq is a remix EP from British intelligent dance music producer μ-Ziq . It was released October 1994, on Hut Records in the UK then released as μ-Ziq vs. the Auteurs on Astralwerks in the US during February 1995...
(1994) - Salsa with MesquiteSalsa with MesquiteSalsa with Mesquite is the second EP from British intelligent dance music producer µ-Ziq. It was released on September 18, 1995, on the Astralwerks record label in the US and Hi-Rise in the UK. It is a pre-album EP to be followed up by In Pine Effect...
(1995) - Urmur Bile Trax Volume 1 & 2Urmur Bile Trax Volume 1 & 2Urmur Bile Trax Volume 1 & 2 is a 1997 EP by British electronic musician Mike Paradinas under his main moniker μ-ziq.-Track listing:# "Urmur Bile" - 9.09# "Let Let" - 7.12# "M5 Saabtone" - 10.08# "Fine Tuning" - 6.14# "The Hydrozone" - 6.18...
(1997) - My Little BeautifulMy Little BeautifulMy Little Beautiful is a 1997 EP by British electronic musician Mike Paradinas under his main moniker µ-Ziq.-Track listing:# "My Little Beautiful" - 4.05# "Hanky Pokery" - 5.02# "Jiggery Panky" - 5.22# "Worcester" - 4.59...
(1997) - Brace YourselfBrace Yourself (µ-ziq album)Brace Yourself is an EP by Mike Paradinas released in 1998 under his main moniker µ-Ziq.The title of the EP is derived from the track "Brace Yourself Jason" from µ-Ziq's earlier album Lunatic Harness and features two remixes of the title track itself, "Brace Yourself " and "Brace Yourself ".-Track...
(1998) - The FearThe Fear (EP)The Fear is an EP by Mike Paradinas released in 1999 under his main moniker "µ-Ziq". It only contains two four-and-a-half minute tracks, the title track being from the 1999 album Royal Astronomy....
(1999) - Ease UpEase UpEase Up is an EP by Mike Paradinas released in 2005 under his main moniker, "µ-ziq"....
(2005)
As Tusken Raiders / Rude Ass Tinker
- Bantha Trax (1995)
- Bantha Trax Vol. 2 (1999)
- The Motorbike Track (1999)
- Imperial Break (2001)
As Jake Slazenger
- Makesaracket (1995)
- Megaphonk (1995)
- Nautilus (1996)
- Das Ist Ein Groovybeat, Ja (1996)
- Pewter Dragon (2006)
As Kid Spatula
- Spatula FreakSpatula FreakSpatula Freak is the debut album by Kid Spatula, an alias for Mike Paradinas. It was released in 1995 on Reflective Records.- CD release :# Dance 3 - 5:54# Chisholm - 3:37# Xvon - 4:26# Trunk - 6:05# Cough - 5:19# Vampires - 6:56# Get Up T - 6:53...
(1995) - Full Sunken BreaksFull Sunken BreaksFull Sunken Breaks is an album by Mike Paradinas released in 2000 under his moniker "Kid Spatula."-Track listing:#"Dirtwah" - 3:57#"Come on Board" - 3:02#"Nordy" - 3:36#"Hard Love" - 5:42#"New School Bikes" - 4:50#"Epic Blusta" - 2:28...
(2000) - MeastMeastMeast is an album by Mike Paradinas released in 2004 under his moniker "Kid Spatula." It compiles a selection of previously unreleased tracks written between 1994 and 1998, spanning two discs.-Track listing:Disc 1:# "Housewife"# "Shistner's Bassflex"...
(2004)
Slag Boom Van Loon (with Jochem Paap aka Speedy J)
- Slag Boom Van Loon (1998)
- So Soon (2001)
External links
- μ-Ziq interview- Perfect Sound Forever
- Mike Paradinas Interview at BarcodeZine
- Michael Paradinas Interview at ElectronicMusic.com
- Junkmedia: μ-Ziq | An interview with μ-Ziq
- Mike Paradinas RBMA video lecture session
- Complete Mike Paradinas discography
- WATMM fan site free downloads of live Mike Paradinas performances, interviews, and radio appearances
- Discogs: Mike Paradinas
- The Milk Factory: Paradinas Album Reviews
- Planet Mu record label