Quite the collection of synthesizers
A nice interview with Vince Clarke and pictures of his new studio at
SonicScoop:
Icons: Inside Vince Clarke�s Synth Kingdom in Brooklyn
You know it as soon as you hear it: A Vince Clarke creation has a way of bouncing right through you. Even at his darkest, there are vibrant energetic impulses emanating from the �King of the Synth�.
These days, this music-making royalty resides in Brooklyn. In the sub-basement of a house on a quite NYC street, new ideas are steadily emerging from Clarke.
That�s good news for fans of the bands he�s co-founded � major musical forces that include Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure. It�s an amazing resume that spans four decades with millions upon millions of record sales tied to a list of unforgettable hits that he�s written: �I Just Can�t Get Enough�, �Only You�, �Don�t Go�, �Chains of Love� and �A Little Respect� to name just a few of Clarke�s global smashes. He is responsible for 17 Top Ten-charting singles in the U.K. just with Erasure.
Situated as he is now, two floors below the earth and surrounded by one of the most mind-boggling collections of analog and digital synths anywhere, you�d think Clarke was safe in his comfort zone. Far from it, this music explorer remains immersed in new projects � remixes, songwriting, production collaborations, and performances � that challenge him.
�I�ve been trying to learn how to be a DJ, which is a scary process,� he laughs. �But I�m not playing live otherwise at the moment, and learning a new piece of technology has been exciting. I�ve figured out how to every song in time from one to the next.�
Actually, managing crossfades and transitions is something Clarke has always been a master of. As he�s grown group after hitmaking group, his rhythmically driven synth style is always evolving. If you haven�t had the chance yet, just check out his entrancing 2012 collaboration with fellow Depeche Mode colleague Martin Gore, VCMG�s entrancing Ssss � this is minimalist techno at its most deliciously enriching.
One of the masters and an amazing collection of instruments.
Posted by DaveH at March 26, 2013 12:01 PM