juno reactor - gods and monsters (metropolis records)
Verfasst: Sa 19. Apr 2008, 05:46
Juno Reactor will release their seventh album, Gods & Monsters, through Metropolis Records on April 22.
Composer Ben Watkins is the brains behind the cinematic musical collective, who've had music featured in two of the Matrix films (Reloaded and Revolutions), Mortal Kombat, Lost In Space, Once Upon A Time In Mexico, The Animatrix and other films.
For Gods & Monsters, Watkins enlisted the talents of drummer Greg Ellis, vocalists Ghetto Priest, Taz Alexander and Yasmin Levy, trumpeter Byron Wallen, guitarist/violinist Sugizo, guitarist Eduardo Nielbla, percussionist Mabi Thobejane, DJ Xavier Morel, duduk player Tigran Aleksanyan and pianist Mike Garson, who's worked with David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails and The Smashing Pumpkins.
Juno Reactor blend electronica with rock and tribal sounds and tap different cultures from around the world. Watkins' love of Japanese animation resulted in Gods & Monsters' cover art being painted by Koji Morimoto.
Composer Ben Watkins is the brains behind the cinematic musical collective, who've had music featured in two of the Matrix films (Reloaded and Revolutions), Mortal Kombat, Lost In Space, Once Upon A Time In Mexico, The Animatrix and other films.
For Gods & Monsters, Watkins enlisted the talents of drummer Greg Ellis, vocalists Ghetto Priest, Taz Alexander and Yasmin Levy, trumpeter Byron Wallen, guitarist/violinist Sugizo, guitarist Eduardo Nielbla, percussionist Mabi Thobejane, DJ Xavier Morel, duduk player Tigran Aleksanyan and pianist Mike Garson, who's worked with David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails and The Smashing Pumpkins.
Juno Reactor blend electronica with rock and tribal sounds and tap different cultures from around the world. Watkins' love of Japanese animation resulted in Gods & Monsters' cover art being painted by Koji Morimoto.
Tracklist
1. Inca Steppa
2. Tokyo Dub
3. Vegas Future Past
4. Mind of the Free
5. Immaculate Crucifixion
6. City of the Sinful
7. Tanta Pena
8. Perfect Crime (Superman)
9. Pretty Girl
1. Inca Steppa
2. Tokyo Dub
3. Vegas Future Past
4. Mind of the Free
5. Immaculate Crucifixion
6. City of the Sinful
7. Tanta Pena
8. Perfect Crime (Superman)
9. Pretty Girl
About:
Originally formed out of the Goa vibe of the early 90's, Juno Reactor continues to improve music with impressive beats and trancey sonic vibes. At the time the band consisted of Ben Watkins, and Stefan Holwick (Total Eclipse) who collaborated to produce an intense experimental ambient soundtrack to go along with performance and sculpture artist Norma Fletcher's "The Missile Project". The band was named after a 70 foot long concrete structure that Watkins' girlfriend made called Juno Reactor. The word Juno comes form a Latin word meaning god or goddess. Together the name came to stand as a powerhouse of the ancient religions.
In 1993, Juno Reactor released its first single on Nova Mute titled "Laughing Gas". Subsequently following the single came their debut album, Transmissions. This release exposed the world to the dance-techno stylings of Juno Reactor, and it was greeted by a huge success. Shortly there after, the band released their second album on Alex Patterson's (Orb) Inter-Modo label. The album, titled Luciana, was essentially the tracks created for "The Missile Project".
After leaving Nova Mute and Inter-Modo, Juno Reactor signed to UK's Blue Room label to release 1995's Guardian Angel single and their third album Beyond the Infinite in 1996. While the driving force behind the music was still a heavy barrage of trance influences, Watkins added in more diverse elements, such as break beats. This new formation of sounds created a new breed of high quality trance for the dance floor.
The 1997 release on Wax Trax/TVT Records, Bible of Dreams, marked Juno Reactor's fourth album. Relatively different from the previous three albums, Bible of Dreams marked a dynamic transformation away from the typical dance-techno formula that continues to dominate the genre. It moved away from being a musical journey to a focused powerful electronic sound scape with more punch and drive. With the single "Congo Fury", Watkins introduced Amampondo, Nelson Mandela's favorite traditional South African percussion act, to the world of Juno Reactor. Later that year, Watkins took Amampondo on a five week tour of the U.S. with him opening for Moby. The performances proved a crowd pleaser, and Juno Reactor kept Amampondo as a full time tour collaborator.
Other than the Juno Reactor releases, Watkins has also had tracks appear on Mortal Kombat, Eraser, Virtuosity, Lost In Space, the Romeo & Juliet trailer, Beowulf and recently Once Upon a Time in Mexico, The Matrix movies: Reloaded and Revolutions. In addition to the various movies, Juno Reactor soundtracks have been played during baseball, basketball, grid iron football, the Japanese Grand Prix, and three tracks on Play Station®'s Jet Mojo3.
Watkins completed the fifth Juno Reactor album, Shango, and the first for Metropolis Records in 2000. Named after the Nigerian God of Thunder, the title alluded to an image of governments and media sterilizing facts of a major European war to make it seem normal to the citizens of the world. Many myths and legends are explored, ranging from South African tribalism to Celtic mythology. The first single from the album, "Pistolero", which was a collaboration with guitarist Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), illuminates just how versatile Watkins production and the Juno Reactor sound are. In fall 2002, Juno Reactor delivered a new single titled "Hotaka". Recorded in Japan in a studio overlooking Mt Fuji, "Hotaka" features Steve Stephens on guitar, and the traditional Taiko drummers, Gocoo. The single shows the constant innovations and influences that make Juno Reactor a timeless act.
Not many bands can claim they can cross many musical boundaries with the ease that Juno Reactor has. Trance, techno, industrial, pop, rock, dance, and world - Juno Reactor has touched them all. In 2003, Odyssey 1992-2002 was released and serves as a celebration of the band's on-going achievements. Featuring the best of the best Juno Reactor tracks from all of their albums, as well the newest track, "Hotaka", it highlights some of the most interesting collaborators that the band has ever worked with.
For 2004 Metropolis Records released Juno Reactor’s album Labyrinth. Featuring elements from rock and world combined with trance style beats and orchestral sounds, Labyrinth explored yet another side of Juno Reactor’s unique musical approach. Several tracks demonstrated a mellower and more soothing sound through the use of extraordinary female vocals and the piano, thus diversifying Juno Reactor’s already unparalleled sound.
Those who have seen Juno Reactor live know that attending a Juno Reactor show isn't like going to a "concert," it's experiencing a whole new concept in performances with a concoction of music, lighting, and live action. Their first and only DVD, Live in Tokyo features selections off Shango, as well as classic Juno Reactor tracks, such as "Conga Fury" and "God Is God." The DVD precisely captured the intensity of Juno Reactor's live performances: from the mind-expanding music, to the acrobatics of Amampondo, right down to the hypnotic lighting effects. Recorded in surround sound, the Live in Tokyo DVD proved that the only thing better than watching was being there.
For his seventh album, Juno Reactor has surrounded himself with the best musicians to create an expansive vision that explores multiple worlds and cultures. Gods & Monsters offers up nine sonic adventures that are sure to expand and captivate the minds of even the most critical listener. From the pulsating opener, “Inca Steppa” to the melancholic “Pretty Girl,” Juno Reactor has succeeded in creating the most dynamic album of his career.
In 1993, Juno Reactor released its first single on Nova Mute titled "Laughing Gas". Subsequently following the single came their debut album, Transmissions. This release exposed the world to the dance-techno stylings of Juno Reactor, and it was greeted by a huge success. Shortly there after, the band released their second album on Alex Patterson's (Orb) Inter-Modo label. The album, titled Luciana, was essentially the tracks created for "The Missile Project".
After leaving Nova Mute and Inter-Modo, Juno Reactor signed to UK's Blue Room label to release 1995's Guardian Angel single and their third album Beyond the Infinite in 1996. While the driving force behind the music was still a heavy barrage of trance influences, Watkins added in more diverse elements, such as break beats. This new formation of sounds created a new breed of high quality trance for the dance floor.
The 1997 release on Wax Trax/TVT Records, Bible of Dreams, marked Juno Reactor's fourth album. Relatively different from the previous three albums, Bible of Dreams marked a dynamic transformation away from the typical dance-techno formula that continues to dominate the genre. It moved away from being a musical journey to a focused powerful electronic sound scape with more punch and drive. With the single "Congo Fury", Watkins introduced Amampondo, Nelson Mandela's favorite traditional South African percussion act, to the world of Juno Reactor. Later that year, Watkins took Amampondo on a five week tour of the U.S. with him opening for Moby. The performances proved a crowd pleaser, and Juno Reactor kept Amampondo as a full time tour collaborator.
Other than the Juno Reactor releases, Watkins has also had tracks appear on Mortal Kombat, Eraser, Virtuosity, Lost In Space, the Romeo & Juliet trailer, Beowulf and recently Once Upon a Time in Mexico, The Matrix movies: Reloaded and Revolutions. In addition to the various movies, Juno Reactor soundtracks have been played during baseball, basketball, grid iron football, the Japanese Grand Prix, and three tracks on Play Station®'s Jet Mojo3.
Watkins completed the fifth Juno Reactor album, Shango, and the first for Metropolis Records in 2000. Named after the Nigerian God of Thunder, the title alluded to an image of governments and media sterilizing facts of a major European war to make it seem normal to the citizens of the world. Many myths and legends are explored, ranging from South African tribalism to Celtic mythology. The first single from the album, "Pistolero", which was a collaboration with guitarist Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), illuminates just how versatile Watkins production and the Juno Reactor sound are. In fall 2002, Juno Reactor delivered a new single titled "Hotaka". Recorded in Japan in a studio overlooking Mt Fuji, "Hotaka" features Steve Stephens on guitar, and the traditional Taiko drummers, Gocoo. The single shows the constant innovations and influences that make Juno Reactor a timeless act.
Not many bands can claim they can cross many musical boundaries with the ease that Juno Reactor has. Trance, techno, industrial, pop, rock, dance, and world - Juno Reactor has touched them all. In 2003, Odyssey 1992-2002 was released and serves as a celebration of the band's on-going achievements. Featuring the best of the best Juno Reactor tracks from all of their albums, as well the newest track, "Hotaka", it highlights some of the most interesting collaborators that the band has ever worked with.
For 2004 Metropolis Records released Juno Reactor’s album Labyrinth. Featuring elements from rock and world combined with trance style beats and orchestral sounds, Labyrinth explored yet another side of Juno Reactor’s unique musical approach. Several tracks demonstrated a mellower and more soothing sound through the use of extraordinary female vocals and the piano, thus diversifying Juno Reactor’s already unparalleled sound.
Those who have seen Juno Reactor live know that attending a Juno Reactor show isn't like going to a "concert," it's experiencing a whole new concept in performances with a concoction of music, lighting, and live action. Their first and only DVD, Live in Tokyo features selections off Shango, as well as classic Juno Reactor tracks, such as "Conga Fury" and "God Is God." The DVD precisely captured the intensity of Juno Reactor's live performances: from the mind-expanding music, to the acrobatics of Amampondo, right down to the hypnotic lighting effects. Recorded in surround sound, the Live in Tokyo DVD proved that the only thing better than watching was being there.
For his seventh album, Juno Reactor has surrounded himself with the best musicians to create an expansive vision that explores multiple worlds and cultures. Gods & Monsters offers up nine sonic adventures that are sure to expand and captivate the minds of even the most critical listener. From the pulsating opener, “Inca Steppa” to the melancholic “Pretty Girl,” Juno Reactor has succeeded in creating the most dynamic album of his career.