Salt Tank
Encyclopedia
Salt Tank are two English
record producer
s, David Gates and Malcolm Stanners, plus percussionist Andy Rose, from Surrey
. Their music
ranges from laid-back trance
, such as their hit single
"Eugina" (some of its many versions include a sample
from "Me and a Gun
" by Tori Amos
) to tougher sounds.
and the pair embraced acid-house as well by the mid 1980s. Stanners began working at Paradise Studio, where he engineered
for Hawkwind
, The Beloved
, Inner City
and Derrick May
.
By 1991, Stanners and Gates had recorded three EPs
. The releases created an interest in the dance
community, and reached radio
via John Peel
. After signing to Internal Records (also the home of Orbital
and The Advent
), the duo released their debut album, Science and Nature. They enjoyed a brief flirtation with the UK Singles Chart
in May 1996 when "Eugina" peaked at #40. Other such chart entries included "Dimension" (1999, #52) and "Eugina" (remix
) (2000, #58).
They have collaborated with other musician
s such as Chicane
, in the track "Leaving Town" which can be found in Chicane's album
Far from the Maddening Crowds
. In turn, Salt Tank remix
ed the song
, and re-titled as "Pueblo Blanco" it was issued on several compilation album
s, including 1999's Gatecrasher : Wet.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
s, David Gates and Malcolm Stanners, plus percussionist Andy Rose, from Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. Their music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
ranges from laid-back trance
Trance music
Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s.:251 It is generally characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 bpm,:252 repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout a track...
, such as their hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
"Eugina" (some of its many versions include a sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
from "Me and a Gun
Me and a Gun
"Me and a Gun" is a song by American singer-songwriter and musician Tori Amos. It was released as the first single from her debut studio album Little Earthquakes. It was released on October 21, 1991 by Atlantic Records in North America and EastWest Records in the UK.-Background:The song is three...
" by Tori Amos
Tori Amos
Tori Amos is an American pianist, singer-songwriter and composer. She was at the forefront of a number of female singer-songwriters in the early 1990s and was noteworthy early in her career as one of the few alternative rock performers to use a piano as her primary instrument...
) to tougher sounds.
Biography
The trio recorded several singles, before signing a recording contract with Internal Records, and securing a UK Top 40 hit single with "Eugina". Originally, Stanners and Gates knew each other from an early age, sharing an affection for world musicWorld music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
and the pair embraced acid-house as well by the mid 1980s. Stanners began working at Paradise Studio, where he engineered
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
for Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
, The Beloved
The Beloved
The Beloved are an English electronic dance music group, best known for the singles "Sweet Harmony", "Hello", "Your Love Takes Me Higher", and "Satellite".-Formation:...
, Inner City
Inner City
Inner City is an American house and techno group, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1987. The group is composed of the record producer and composer Kevin Saunderson and the Chicago, Illinois native Paris Grey...
and Derrick May
Derrick May
Derrick May, also known as Mayday and Rhythim is Rhythim, is an electronic musician from Belleville, Michigan U.S.A. He was born an only child in Detroit in 1963 and began to explore electronic music early in his life...
.
By 1991, Stanners and Gates had recorded three EPs
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 releases created an interest in the dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
community, and reached radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
via John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
. After signing to Internal Records (also the home of Orbital
Orbital (band)
Orbital are a British electronic dance music duo from Sevenoaks, England consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. Their career initially ran from 1989 until 2004, but in 2009 they announced that they would be reforming and headlining The Big Chill, in addition to a number of other live shows...
and The Advent
The Advent
The Advent is a British electronic music act. It was originally founded in 1993 by Cisco Ferreira and Colin McBean. Soon after leaving school, Ferreira began working as an engineer at Jack Trax Records, a job which enabled him to glimpse first-hand the work of such artists as Derrick May and...
), the duo released their debut album, Science and Nature. They enjoyed a brief flirtation with the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in May 1996 when "Eugina" peaked at #40. Other such chart entries included "Dimension" (1999, #52) and "Eugina" (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 ....
) (2000, #58).
They have collaborated with other 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....
s such as Chicane
Chicane (recording artist)
Chicane is a British electronic dance music act, and the guise of British musician, composer, songwriter and record producer, Nicholas Bracegirdle....
, in the track "Leaving Town" which can be found in Chicane's album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Far from the Maddening Crowds
Far from the Maddening Crowds
Far from the Maddening Crowds is the debut studio album by British electronic dance music act Chicane, released in 1997. It is highly regarded as a seminal release in the trance community, and is highly sought after...
. In turn, Salt Tank 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 ....
ed the song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, and re-titled as "Pueblo Blanco" it was issued on several compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s, including 1999's Gatecrasher : Wet.
Albums
- 1994 Laguna Calorado (Internal)
- 1996 Science & Nature (Internal)
- 1997 Wave Breaks (FFRR RecordsFFRR RecordsFFRR Records is a subsidiary of London Records, founded and run by English DJ Pete Tong. FFRR has also two subsidiaries: Double F Double R Records and Ffrreedom Records...
)