Talla 2XLC
Encyclopedia
Talla 2XLC, real name Andreas Tomalla, is an electronic music producer and DJ whose work has spanned from industrial music to trance music.
, YMO
, and Depeche Mode
.
In 1984, Talla 2XLC started a small nightclub event called Technoclub, the first such club in Frankfurt
to focus on electronic dance music
. Initially, Technoclub was a Friday-night event held in the smaller, 350-person capacity room of the Dorian Gray discothèque inside the Frankfurt International Airport
. In 1986, Technoclub moved to the 600-capacity Roxannes, where it remained through 1988. In 1989, it briefly moved to the 800- or 900-capacity Omen venue, then in September 1989 to the Dorian Gray's 2000-capacity main room, where it remained until the Dorian Gray closed in 2000. Technoclub may have been the world’s first major "super-club".
In the mid-1980s, he was involved with a band called Moskwa TV. In 1987 he co-founded the group Robotiko Rejekto and was associated with the fledgling record label Techno Drome International, an imprint of ZYX Records. Robotiko Rejekto's track "Rejekto" was one of the label's first releases. In 1988, he started a new project called Bigod 20
, which would go on to be one of Europe’s most successful EBM acts of the early 1990s.
In 1987 and 1988, Talla 2XLC produced fanzines.
In 1989, to distribute the music of Bigod 20 and other industrial acts in Europe, Talla 2XLC co-founded, with Franz Morgenbesser, the New Beat
-oriented New Zone label, and the conglomerate Music Research and its primary subsidiary, Zoth Ommog Records
, an important label in the underground electronic music scene for many years thereafter (though his management of the business lasted only the first several years after its inception). All the while, he kept a high profile as a remixer to many big-name artists in the world electronic dance scene.
In 1990, Talla's DJ sets were described as "what we in the UK would term techno, together with the more rock-orientated hardcore industrial sounds of North American acts such as Skinny Puppy
, Revolting Cocks
, and My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
(no holds barred stuff as you've probably guessed). These bands would probably prove too harsh for most UK dancefloors (let's face it, MC 900 Ft. Jesus
is hard work), but the step across to techno, via bands like Cabaret Voltaire
and German pioneers Einstürzende Neubauten
, is a relatively short one."
Talla also ran a label called Dynamo, on behalf of German (then-) major label Teldec
.
Since the dissolution of Bigod 20 in 1994, Talla 2XLC has focused less on industrial music and more on trance and its subgenres, particularly epic trance. With Sony Records in 1997, he started the @Technoclub compilation series, which introduced many underground dance hits to mainstream European audiences.
, Armin Van Buuren, Ferry Corsten
, Above and Beyond
, et al.
Talla still continues to travel the world, championing music featuring "soaring" vocals and mixing elements of cutting edge electronic music with novel breakdowns and euphoric melodies. He tours throughout every country in Europe, The Americas, Australia and Asia, and has been featured at some of the world’s major festivals and clubs, including ID & T
’s Trance Energy, the Love parade
, Space Ibiza
.
His weekly Technoclub radio show is played on German national radio station Sunshine Live.
In January 2008 he also re-launched the once well-known label, Tetsuo.
History
In 1979, Talla 2XLC began DJing with the sounds of KraftwerkKraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
, YMO
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Sakamoto first worked with Hosono as a member of his live band in 1976, while Takahashi recruited Sakamoto to produce his debut solo recording in 1977 following the split of the Sadistic Mika Band...
, and Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
.
In 1984, Talla 2XLC started a small nightclub event called Technoclub, the first such club in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
to focus on electronic dance music
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
. Initially, Technoclub was a Friday-night event held in the smaller, 350-person capacity room of the Dorian Gray discothèque inside the Frankfurt International Airport
Frankfurt International Airport
Frankfurt am Main Airport , or simply Frankfurt Airport, known in German as Flughafen Frankfurt am Main or Rhein-Main-Flughafen, is a major international airport located in Frankfurt, Germany, southwest of the city centre....
. In 1986, Technoclub moved to the 600-capacity Roxannes, where it remained through 1988. In 1989, it briefly moved to the 800- or 900-capacity Omen venue, then in September 1989 to the Dorian Gray's 2000-capacity main room, where it remained until the Dorian Gray closed in 2000. Technoclub may have been the world’s first major "super-club".
In the mid-1980s, he was involved with a band called Moskwa TV. In 1987 he co-founded the group Robotiko Rejekto and was associated with the fledgling record label Techno Drome International, an imprint of ZYX Records. Robotiko Rejekto's track "Rejekto" was one of the label's first releases. In 1988, he started a new project called Bigod 20
Bigod 20
Bigod 20 was a German EBM and electro-industrial band which was formed in 1988 by music producers Andreas Tomalla and Markus Nikolai .-History:...
, which would go on to be one of Europe’s most successful EBM acts of the early 1990s.
In 1987 and 1988, Talla 2XLC produced fanzines.
In 1989, to distribute the music of Bigod 20 and other industrial acts in Europe, Talla 2XLC co-founded, with Franz Morgenbesser, the New Beat
New Beat
New Beat is a term that was used in the 1980s to refer to two different genres of electronic dance music. It also refers to an underground 1980s Belgian music style.- Terminology :...
-oriented New Zone label, and the conglomerate Music Research and its primary subsidiary, Zoth Ommog Records
Zoth Ommog Records
Zoth Ommog Records is the name of the influential German Industrial music record label which was owned by the parent label Music Research. The company was established by German music producer Andreas Tomalla and later handed over to producer Torben Schmidt...
, an important label in the underground electronic music scene for many years thereafter (though his management of the business lasted only the first several years after its inception). All the while, he kept a high profile as a remixer to many big-name artists in the world electronic dance scene.
In 1990, Talla's DJ sets were described as "what we in the UK would term techno, together with the more rock-orientated hardcore industrial sounds of North American acts such as Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy is a Canadian industrial musical group, formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1982. The group is widely considered to be the founders of the electro-industrial genre....
, Revolting Cocks
Revolting Cocks
Revolting Cocks, also known as RevCo, is an American–Belgian industrial rock band and sometime supergroup that began as a musical side-project for Richard 23 of Front 242, Luc Van Acker, and Al Jourgensen of Ministry.-History:...
, and My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult is an American electronic industrial rock band originally based out of Chicago, Illinois.-History:...
(no holds barred stuff as you've probably guessed). These bands would probably prove too harsh for most UK dancefloors (let's face it, MC 900 Ft. Jesus
MC 900 Ft. Jesus
MC 900 Ft. Jesus is the stage name of Mark Griffin, a classically trained musician turned rapper and experimental musician born in Dallas, Texas....
is hard work), but the step across to techno, via bands like Cabaret Voltaire
Cabaret Voltaire (band)
Cabaret Voltaire were a British music group from Sheffield, England.Initially composed of Stephen Mallinder, Richard H. Kirk and Chris Watson, the group was named after the Cabaret Voltaire, a nightclub in Zürich, Switzerland that was a centre for the early Dada movement.Their earliest performances...
and German pioneers Einstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten is a German post-industrial band, originally from West Berlin, formed in 1980. The group currently comprises Blixa Bargeld , Alexander Hacke , N.U...
, is a relatively short one."
Talla also ran a label called Dynamo, on behalf of German (then-) major label Teldec
Teldec
The Teldec is a German record label in Hamburg, Germany. Today the label is a property of Warner Music Group.-History:...
.
Since the dissolution of Bigod 20 in 1994, Talla 2XLC has focused less on industrial music and more on trance and its subgenres, particularly epic trance. With Sony Records in 1997, he started the @Technoclub compilation series, which introduced many underground dance hits to mainstream European audiences.
Recent activity
Talla 2XLC's productions, remixes, and DJ mix releases number well into the hundreds. Notable productions include “Can You Feel the Silence,” which reached #14 on the German Top 100 Sales Charts, and his 2007 co-production with Ace Da Brain, “No In Between,” which was played by popular European trance DJs Paul Van DykPaul van Dyk
Matthias Paul, better known by his stage name Paul van Dyk is a German Grammy Award-winning Electronic Dance Music DJ, musician and record producer...
, Armin Van Buuren, Ferry Corsten
Ferry Corsten
Ferry Corsten, also known under the alias System F, is a Dutch producer of trance music, in addition to being a DJ and remixer. He also hosts his own weekly radio show, Corsten's Countdown. He routinely plays at events all over the world with crowds in excess of tens of thousands. In 2009 Ferry...
, Above and Beyond
Above & Beyond (band)
Above & Beyond are a British trance music group formed in 2000 and consists of the members Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness, and Finnish Paavo Siljamäki. They have their own record label Anjunabeats, which releases trance and progressive music, and they also host their own weekly radio show Trance...
, et al.
Talla still continues to travel the world, championing music featuring "soaring" vocals and mixing elements of cutting edge electronic music with novel breakdowns and euphoric melodies. He tours throughout every country in Europe, The Americas, Australia and Asia, and has been featured at some of the world’s major festivals and clubs, including ID & T
ID&T
ID&T is a Dutch entertainment and medium enterprise that was founded in the early 1990s.ID&T stands for the initials of three founders of the company, Irfan, Duncan and Theo, all residents of Amsterdam...
’s Trance Energy, the Love parade
Love Parade
The Love Parade was a popular electronic dance music festival and parade that originated in 1989 in West Berlin, Germany. It was held in Germany annually between 1989 and 2003 in Berlin, and then from 2006 to 2010 in the Ruhr region...
, Space Ibiza
Space (Ibiza nightclub)
Space is a nightclub on Ibizaowned bi STANCA. It was awarded "Best Global Club" at the International Dance Music Awards in 2005 and again in 2006...
.
His weekly Technoclub radio show is played on German national radio station Sunshine Live.
In January 2008 he also re-launched the once well-known label, Tetsuo.