Atomic Shadow – Shortwave Robot Pants

One of the most interesting electronic music albums to come across our desks in the last year is Atomic Shadow’s Shortwave Robot Pants.

Atomic Shadow (Rod Mitchell) has described himself as a ‘mid-century electronic’ artist, and that seems to be a good characterization of his style.

His work seems to come from a parallel universe, where the ‘sonic tonalities’ of things like the Bebe and Louis Barron soundtrack to Forbidden Planet, or some of the more ambient soundscapes of Blade Runner, are the inspiration for new experiments with sound.

The music on Shortwave Robot Pants seems like it was conceived free of the context of current electronic music and free even from the assumptions of modern electronic instrument design. On many of the tracks, there are no melodies, no chords and no beats. And most of the sounds not only don’t sound like presets, they don’t sound like they come from typical electronic instruments.

Mitchell has an ear for creating sounds that rarely betray their origin, and he arranges them to create music that resists being pidgeonholed. While many of the tracks tend towards soundscape or dark ambient territory, other tracks pair abstract sounds with more recognizable elements. For example, Last Light From A Distant Sun, combines Kelly Ricks’ bluesy trumpet with electronic burblings, creating a sort of ‘Krell jazz’.

The album is not for the meek. It’s music that could clear a dance floor or send home guests that have overstayed their welcome.

But for adventurous listeners, Shortwave Robot Pants is a reminder that there’s an entire universe of electronic sounds and music, still waiting to be explored.

You can preview Shortwave Radio Pants below:

17 thoughts on “Atomic Shadow – Shortwave Robot Pants

  1. This shit, it’s the “One of the most interesting electronic music albums to come across our desks in the last year” ? Poor 2016…

    1. I thought “Yoko Ono” was for that?????
      Or at least it is according to playboy magazine
      (Honest look it up, part of a ultimate party playlist with a way to end party fast)

  2. on a similar vein : electronic music with no synths : https://akamusik.bandcamp.com/album/file-woop, FiLe are live recordings of places where we have been. Each recording is split into 4 separated frequency bands on which several effects are applied.

    This is a distortion reality effect, where original sources are not meant to be recognised. Some would call it ambient, some drone, some noise. We call it “immersive electronic”. Perfect to listen when falling asleep.

    For this collection, the sounds of sea waves, plane take off, open market and girls laughing have been used. And abused. With no shame.

    Those who are used to AkA rhythmic work will find here a total absence of electronic drums or loops. Instead, we make room for evolutive pulses and spacial atmospheres.

      1. thank you Starhief ! I usually do not post links to what I do as I do not want to be dubbed as “spammer”, but in this case the connection was really strong, so hopefully this will contribute to the thread. 😉

  3. By, “… still waiting to be explored.”, did you mean as in Electroacoustic/Electronic/Computer music from the 50s onwards?

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