Norken
Soul Static Bureau
Beau Monde/Dutch East India



20th Century

Ambient

Drum And Bass

Electronic / Experimental / Industrial

Industrial Rhythm

Techno

Trip Hop, Breaks, Dub, World-Fusion

(Very) Alternative

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    Soul Static Bureau is a sumptuous collection of dreamy Detroit techno tracks and ambient house, like early Carl Craig or the sublime side of Kenny Larkin. Norken is Britain's Lee Norris who recorded for the Clear label under the name Metamatics. For this new project Norris deepens the subtle techno stylings of Metamatics' EP01 (collected on the "A Metamatics Production" CD by Clear in 1997). The word for it is lush - a nice balance of rhythm, texture and minimalist chords/melody fragments that chills you out before warming your heart.

    Soul Static Bureau features tracks from the two previous Norken 12"ers, including the mellow deep house cut "Southern Soul," released by Clear's Reel offshoot two years ago (which will be remixed by producers tba, in the new year).
    Currently Lee is well represented in the marketplace with several projects. As Metamatics he has the Neo Ouija album on Hydrogen Dukebox, which progresses from his Clear label singles EP3 and Onyx with Plaid-ish manoeuvres in drum & bass. That album had been intended to be released on Clear two years back, and was actually licensed to Vine in Japan awhile ago.
    Newer Metamatics tracks are on the District 6 label. And on the experimental side Norris records with Peter Cox as Nacht Plank. Their 1-12 CDR is a limited collection of Oval-style tonal loops and ambient-techno chords, from Staalplaat's minimalist Microwave label.