Surgeon's Raw Trax

[mindstuff]

I started listening to Surgeon's Raw Trax 1 and 2 here recently and have to say this is a techno classic. I saw that it was made with only a 909 and Portabella synth (whopping $7K pricetag) and recorded onto tape.

youtu.be/WnTJTsS6aVg

To me the distortion is very pleasing. Does anyone know if any albums/producers that come close to this sound?

[Be without]

Apparently these tracks were inspired by the comedy show ‘ vicar of Dibley’ Surgeon was really in to this comedy show at the time according to some recent q and a,s he’s done.

[mindstuff]

Apparently these tracks were inspired by the comedy show ‘ vicar of Dibley’ Surgeon was really in to this comedy show at the time according to some recent q and a,s he’s done.

I almost didn't want to know that! Techno after a sitcom

I'd love if anyone can suggest any other albums similar. Only these 2 are on my rotation here the last few days. I love the tape saturation in these tracks.

[Lost to the Void]

A lot of people don't realise that surgeon wrote the theme tune to Surprise Surprise with Cilla Black.
He went to her funeral and admitted to weeping like a baby.

[tsaro]

Maybe check some (older) DJ Hell stuff?

[Lost to the Void]

Obscurum. They were less synthy and harder, but everything was driven to fuck.
Early surgeon, early Regis for sure.

[speen]

Yes, obviously the older stuff by Surgeon and Regis but the cool thing here is, to me, that it's old school but sounds fresher. probably better/modern mastering?

I always loved this Regis track, so simple and effective:
youtu.be/po1gKQG

Maybe some of the old Scorp records also appeal to you Mindstuff, not as distorted but very minimal and effective. And they have been remastered a while back.

[mindstuff]

Yes, obviously the older stuff by Surgeon and Regis but the cool thing here is, to me, that it's old school but sounds fresher. probably better/modern mastering?

I think this is somewhat why these tracks appeal to me. Also the flow of the set of tracks is perfect. One almost runs into the other. One thing I can't help notices is some of them don't change their sequence that much throughout the track. I hear great use of layering sounds to my ears. But mostly, they're mostly modulations, changing out HHs, add ride, etc. Its amazing how mastery comes down to focusing on the fewest elements...and as I've heard him say, making it believable.

[Lost to the Void]

Yes, obviously the older stuff by Surgeon and Regis but the cool thing here is, to me, that it's old school but sounds fresher. probably better/modern mastering?
]

Yeah the mastering is better balanced on this Raw stuff.

[chava]

Maybe check some (older) DJ Hell stuff?

Good call. The "albino ep" especially has some of that over-saturated, dirty sound. Obviously the first track is a Richard Bartz production.



youtu.be/KFruYIalrZI

youtu.be/HMQSaVlbYD4

[dubdub]

Obscurum. They were less synthy and harder, but everything was driven to fuck.
Early surgeon, early Regis for sure.

Obscurum are GOATs... nothing that sounds like them. I have almost all of it on vinyl. They recently put some old releases on their Bandcamp page.

https://obscurum.bandcamp.com/

[tsaro]

Yeah Obscurum have a pretty nice raw edge. Maybe a little more control on the drive from what I recall, though it's hard as nails in its own right.

Some other raw DJ Hell stuff, couldn't find the one in particular I was thinking of though.

youtu.be/iPePtDvj7KQ

youtu.be/7GNbbAcS8Js
Regis remix, no surprise there...

youtu.be/VzhAyLlJxT0

[Be without]

https://youtu.be/jRatu0KxVn4

[mindstuff]

https://youtu.be/jRatu0KxVn4

Yes!