TELEMETRIK
LIGHT UP WORDS | Chris Muniz
Perhaps best known as one-half the groundswell of revisioning the future. “The quick to agree that the artwork was indeed an
Washington, D.C.-based duo Corrupt Souls, idea behind the first drafts of songs was extension of the LP itself.
all of that is about to change as Marcio originally to revive the Telemetrik label,” says
“Telemetrik” Alvarado steps out in a major Marcio when asked about the origins of the LP “From the beginning my thoughts were
way with an album of epic proportions. Aptly project, “but in the back of my head there was tethered to the idea of the universe and its
titled, ‘My Lightyear’, the ten-track debut is always the thought of doing an album nagging extremes. I wanted it to sound as bright as
an inspiring and wildly ambitious journey me. I asked the BSE guys for advice on what stars but also as dark and as cold as the
through a cinematic soundscape that’s sure direction to take and that’s how the project space that surrounds them,” Marcio says when
to bring on the goosebumps and flashbacks came to have an outlet.” talking about the overall sound and vision of
(or flash-forwards) to a retro future worth the LP. “It’s possible that if humanity manages
experiencing. A linking with Black Sun Empire seemed not to destroy itself we will see the explosion
inevitable as the well-known crew is obviously of artificial intelligence at some point in
Having originally hit the big-time with ‘Impulse’ in deep exploration of similar corners of the future. I can’t pretend to know what it
in 2003 under their Corrupt Souls moniker, the musical universe. “I remember getting will entail but ‘My Lightyear’ is one possible
the duo earned their stripes with a number of speeding tickets listening to BSE so I guess it dimension. It’s the story of two intelligences,
high-profile releases on imprints like Moving was meant to be,” Marcio adds with a smile. one based on illumination and the other based
Shadow, Renegade Hardware, BSE and Circle, entirely upon consumption.”
before moving on to other projects. The LP itself is the product of over eight studios
as Marcio was determined to approach each Using the narrative as a foundation, Marcio
After the amicable parting of ways, Marcio and every song as a unique experience. “There pulls the listener along at an almost hypnotic
buried himself in the studio and really began was all kinds of different gear, monitors, ways pace, shifting between moods and tempos
to push the boundaries and test the limits of working, and there were collaborations as with ease, piling on the beats and energy full
of his studio expertise. Like some wise- well. I never made a song the same way twice. force before easing off the pedal and sliding
beyond-his-years Jedi master, Marcio seems I experimented with everything from two-inch into epic soundtrack mode.
to embody long-forgotten techniques and tape to the Emagic System Bridge, and covered
ancient principles brought to the surface once as much as I could. It was distracting at times “’Cosmos’ captures this tension perfectly as
again. With no fear of hardware or software and it definitely made the album take that it seems liquid-like in its roll out before the
and a studio that looks like the playground much longer but I learned a lot. “ beats come crunching in and the bass applies
of a mad scientist, Marcio’s own demeanor just enough pressure before rolling out and
is otherworldly and thoughtful, as befitting a Driving alone one night on a dark and rainy road, letting the floor grit their teeth. ‘Space Coke’ is
poet or philosopher. in an equally dark and miserable mood, Marcio another cut that rises to the top, it’s funky call-
remembers being struck with inspiration after and-response giving way to alien bleeps and
Admitting his own “heady” influences like seeing optical illusion “trails” on the road due techno-driven atmosphere, reminiscent of Dr.
Radiohead, Bjork, Nine Inch Nails, and Tool to his glasses. “I started imagining what it Who-era time travel. On the verge of crossing
drive his productions, Marcio seems most would be like for a human to actually travel the over into electronica territory, there’s still
determined to capture and conjure narratives speed of light. From there I really wanted it to enough dirt and hustle to keep bassheads on
from the dreamscape of the collective be personal so I took ownership of the idea and their toes and completely losing it at the epic
unconscious. “Vibe is so important,” Marcio made it ‘My Lightyear’. It just tied everything bridge at the core.
explains when asked about his signature together so well that it was instantly the title. I’d
sound. “There is so much innuendo involved found my cornerstone.” Looking beyond to the coming year, Marcio
in instrumental electronica, there is no vocal is the first to admit he’s running on idea
to really cue you and set up the emotion. Cinematic in nature, it’s obvious that Marcio’s overload. Rather cryptically, in addition to the
Instead, you’re using different technologies like construct gave the work life and the pieces CD release scheduled in Washington, D.C. on
computers and synths to get a message across.” began to pull themselves together in the way July 19th and a fall tour, Marcio is keen to
a traditional score would, even the artwork mention a “new website called EMEnetwork.
Drawing upon the sci-fi landscape of the on each of the three EP sleeves building off com that will serve a lot of different purposes
golden age of drum & bass when Ed Rush, one another, furthering the storyline. From in the coming months.”
Optical, Trace, Teebee, and Stakka & Skynet the floating rings of ‘Act One’ to the supernova
were at the top of their game, Marcio’s scream of ‘Act Two’ and the rebirth by cosmic www.telemetrik.net
full-length debut is certain to unleash a fire image that frames ‘Act Three’, Marcio is myspace.com/mylightyear
www.kmag.co.uk
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