Monolake
Encyclopedia
Monolake is an electronic music
act based in Berlin. Originally consisting of members Gerhard Behles and Robert Henke, Monolake is now perpetuated by Henke while Behles focuses on running music software company Ableton
, which they founded in 1999 together with Bernd Roggendorf. In fall 2004, Torsten Pröfrock became a member of Monolake.
Monolake's minimal, dub
-influenced techno
music helped establish the sound of the Chain Reaction
label, also located in Berlin, subsequently using their own [ml/i] (Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music) label for the group's output. Both current members have solo projects, with Henke releasing under his own name and Pröfrock as "T++" and "Various Artists."
In 2008 T++ followed Ricardo Villalobos
in bridging the gap between minimal techno
and dubstep
, by remix
ing Shackleton
's Death Is Not Final for the Skull Disco label.
In 2009, Robert Henke appeared in the electronic music documentary Speaking In Code
which presented the completion of the Monodeck.
Monolake is named after Mono Lake
, which is east of the Sierra Nevada in California
.
Henke is a software engineer who develops custom software and hardware for live performances. As well as working as an engineer for Ableton, Henke designed the Atlantic Waves software for performing live with other producers in different countries simultaneously.
In 2003, Henke designed the Monodeck, a midi-controller interface for spontaneous editing and effects work during live performances, even without having to look at the computer screen. The Monodeck and its successor, Monodeck II, control Ableton through patches
designed with Max/MSP
.
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...
act based in Berlin. Originally consisting of members Gerhard Behles and Robert Henke, Monolake is now perpetuated by Henke while Behles focuses on running music software company Ableton
Ableton
Ableton AG is a Berlin-based music software company that produces and distributes the production and performance suite Ableton Live and a collection of related instruments and sample libraries.- History :...
, which they founded in 1999 together with Bernd Roggendorf. In fall 2004, Torsten Pröfrock became a member of Monolake.
Monolake's minimal, dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
-influenced techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
music helped establish the sound of the Chain Reaction
Basic Channel
Basic Channel is a production team and record label, composed of Moritz Von Oswald and Mark Ernestus, that originated in Berlin, Germany in 1993. The duo released a number of vinyl-only tracks under various aliases, each of which employed their signature brand of dissonant dub techno...
label, also located in Berlin, subsequently using their own [ml/i] (Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music) label for the group's output. Both current members have solo projects, with Henke releasing under his own name and Pröfrock as "T++" and "Various Artists."
In 2008 T++ followed Ricardo Villalobos
Ricardo Villalobos
Ricardo Villalobos is a Chilean-German electronic music producer and DJ. He is well-known for his work in the minimal techno and microhouse genres, and is one of the most significant figures in today's minimal techno scene....
in bridging the gap between minimal techno
Minimal techno
Minimal techno is a minimalist sub-genre of techno. It is characterized by a stripped-down aesthetic that exploits the use of repetition, and understated development. This style of dance music production generally adheres to the motto less is more; a principle that has been previously utilized, to...
and dubstep
Dubstep
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in south London, England. Its overall sound has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals"....
, by 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 ....
ing Shackleton
Skull Disco
Skull Disco was an independent dubstep record label, based in London. It was established in 2005 by Sam Shackleton and Laurie "Appleblim" Osborne, and ended in 2008. Releases on the label included African percussion and ethnic samples...
's Death Is Not Final for the Skull Disco label.
In 2009, Robert Henke appeared in the electronic music documentary Speaking In Code
Speaking in Code
Speaking in Code is a character-based documentary directed by Amy Grill about people who are lost in the electronic music lifestyle.Shot in 11 cities and 5 countries, Speaking In Code provides a glimpse into the techno world through the eyes of Modeselektor, the Wighnomy Brothers, Philip Sherburne,...
which presented the completion of the Monodeck.
Monolake is named after Mono Lake
Mono Lake
Mono Lake is a large, shallow saline lake in Mono County, California, formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in a basin that has no outlet to the ocean...
, which is east of the Sierra Nevada in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Monodeck
In 2003, Henke designed the Monodeck, a midi-controller interface for spontaneous editing and effects work during live performances, even without having to look at the computer screen. The Monodeck and its successor, Monodeck II, control Ableton through patches
Patch (computing)
A patch is a piece of software designed to fix problems with, or update a computer program or its supporting data. This includes fixing security vulnerabilities and other bugs, and improving the usability or performance...
designed with Max/MSP
Max (software)
Max is a visual programming language for music and multimedia developed and maintained by San Francisco-based software company Cycling '74. During its 20-year history, it has been widely used by composers, performers, software designers, researchers, and artists for creating innovative recordings,...
.
Monolake Albums
- Hongkong (Chain Reaction, 1997, re-issued remastered and re-edited in 2008)
- Gobi. The Desert EP ([ml/i], 1999)
- Interstate ([ml/i], 1999 re-issued in 2007)
- Cinemascope ([ml/i], 2001)
- Gravity ([ml/i], 2001)
- Momentum ([ml/i], 2003)
- Polygon_Cities ([ml/i], 2005)
- Plumbicon Versions ([ml/i], 2006)
- Silence ([ml/i], 2009)
- Ghosts ([ml/i], 2012)
Robert Henke Albums
- Piercing Music (Imbalance, 1994, re-released 2003)
- Floating Point (Imbalance, 1997)
- Signal to Noise (Imbalance Computer Music, 2004)
- Layering Buddha (Imbalance Computer Music, 2006) also released as a 5 x 7" box set
- Indigo_Transform (Imbalance Computer Music, 2009)
Torsten Pröfrock Albums
- Various Artists Decay Product (Chain Reaction, 1997)
- Various Artists 8, 8.5, 9 Remixes (FatCat, 1999)
- Dynamo Außen Vor (DIN, 2002)
External links
- monolake.de - official website
- Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
.com - Interview
- Interview (2005)
- Interview (2005)
- Interview (2004)
- Interview (2003)
- Two and a Half Questions with Robert Henke on Headphone Commute (2009)
- A Conversation with Robert Henke: Silence, Technology, and Process on Create Digital Music (2010)
- - Live at DISK/CTM festival in Berlin