Prequel Tapes – The Ransom Note Mix

Prequel Tapes began earlier this year when the man behind the project stumbled across old recordings of his new wave/industrial band from the late 80s and early 90s. By incorporating samples from these tapes into the exerimental music he was making on vintage drum machines and synthesizers, Prequel Tapes was born.

After seeing him at an early live performance, producer and R'COUP'D imprint founder Fink decided to release his music – intially in the form of remixes of Fink tracks, and now as a full Prequel Tapes album entitled Inner Systems. His music draws on the industrial sounds of his past, and it is gloriously deep, dark and unsettling – telling a 'distinctly German tale, forged between the forest and the autobahn'.

He's an enigmatic figure, with an aversion to showing his face in photos and a belief that 'the music rather than the creator [should] be the central focus' – so we feel priviliged not just to have this mix, but to learn a little more about the man behind the music.

Please introduce yourself…

Who are you, where are you, what are you?

Prequel Tapes

Your favourite disco number comes on in the club, what move are you busting?

My wife says I dance like the old goth that I am.

It’s 4am, you’ve drank a little more than was sensible, what are you eating? 

Fries from down the road

What’s the plan for this weekend?

Take it as it comes

How do you take your tea? 

With milk and a nice chocolate cookie

Can you roll your tongue, lick your elbow or any other weird skills? 

No, but I can raise one eyebrow and roll my eyes…

Summer or Winter? 

Both

On to the mix: 

Where was the mix recorded?

In my studio

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Somewhere relaxed

What should we be wearing?

I don’t care

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

In my studio

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

I like them all, but to pick one it´s Yves De Mey – Double Slit (Semantica)

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

There’s so many great ones, I can’t choose… 

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

I prefer to play live. But to go back and dance to Cora S at the old Ostgut would be a trip worth making.

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

When I was 13 years old it was a double tape deck. Not sure about the brand anymore, must have been a JVC or a Panasonic

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

That´s not important to me, the trip is important.

What were the first and last records you bought?

First:  Depeche Mode – 'Construction Time Again'
Last:  Arash Moori – 'Heterodyne'

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Tonkotsu

If it was an animal what would it be?

Quentin (my cat & my wife’s spirit animal)

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

You can mix everything if you take your time.

Upcoming in the world of Prequel Tapes… 

Drones for a forthcoming live show and release, playing Lego.

Anything else we need to discuss? 

What socks do you wear when you ask questions?

Inner Systems is out now on R'COUP'D and available to buy