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8 Tracks Of: Sounds with Max Graef

 
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Since debuting on Box Aus Holz back in 2012, Berlin-based producer and Tax Free Records co-founder Max Graef’s output has continued to evolve.

Although a love of hip hop and jazz has always formed the backbone of his musical creations, over the last eight years, through various projects and collaborations, he’s taken these influences in different directions. His solo efforts have found homes on Apron Records, Heist and Schwarz 12, as well as his regular home Tartelet and his now defunct Money $ex Records, both of which were also helmed by Graef’s Ninja Tune collaborator Glenn Astro.

On top his solo production efforts, the fruits of Graef’s work with his live band saw the light of day in 2015. Their first LP Dog saw the band blend their love of jazz and krautrock with contemporary electronics through free improvisation. 

Bringing it back to the present day, earlier this summer he donned his remix hat for us and produced a chopped and screwed rework of our latest R$N Records LP from Hologram Teen. Following the release we asked Max to pick out some his favourite ear pleasing sonics; from the sound of insects to the sound of Lemmy from Motörhead’s voice and the inside of a drinking water tank…

Follow Max Graef. Buy Hologram Teen’s Pizza Conspiracy EP and Max Graef’s remix of Rock Eagle Rock on Ransom Note Records.

LISTEN
The Sound Of Jimi's Guitar

This is an excerpt from a live recording of “Machine Gun”, at Berkeley 1970 by Jimi Hendrix. The whole recording is incredible, not only the way he plays but also the quality of the recording is great. There is not a lot that touches me as deeply as the sound of Jimi’s guitar playing, a true master. It’s the only guitar player who can transmit emotions as raw and authentic in my opinion.

  • The Sound Of Jimi's Guitar

    This is an excerpt from a live recording of “Machine Gun”, at Berkeley 1970 by Jimi Hendrix. The whole recording is incredible, not only the way he plays but also the quality of the recording is great. There is not a lot that touches me as deeply as the sound of Jimi’s guitar playing, a true master. It’s the only guitar player who can transmit emotions as raw and authentic in my opinion.

  • The Sound Of Insects

    This is a clip from Provençal Walks / Balades Provençales by Jean C. Roché. This is only an example of all the field and nature recordings of Paysages Sonores du Monde series that I have been enjoying lately. I bought a handful of the CDs at the great Dizonord record shop in Paris. I enjoy the sound of nature and I like the weird constellation of listening to it inside your living room on the speakers, very loud.

  • The Sound Of Lemmy's Voice

    I guess not much explanation needed. The energy of his voice and the pace and power of the songs of Motörhead are quite a big influence on what I do at the moment.

  • The Sound Of The Forest Temple In The Legend Of Zelda - Ocarina Of Time

    The game and it’s soundtrack has influenced me a lot when I was growing up and it still is. Whenever I am playing Ocarina Of Time again from time to time I fall in love with the mood and the music all over again. It fascinates me how beautiful and touching a digital sounding loop like this one can be.

  • The Sound Of Spirituality

    Right after the music of Jimi Hendrix, the music of Alice Coltrane gives me the highest feel of spirituality in music. “The Ankh Of Amen-Ra” is a special example since it does so much to you emotionally when you listen to it. It’s dark moments that lighten up occasionally and the power of trance and true psychedelic energy that you can feel while listening to this is so unique. A very big influence for me.

  • The Sound Of The Blues Of John Lee Hooker

    It’s hard to pick a song that is the most representative since I hardly heard a John Lee Hooker song that didn’t touch me. I love the power of simplicity and the emotions but I am also a huge fan of his guitar playing and the sound of his voice.

  • The Sound Of The Jungle In Secret Of Evermore

    Another sick videogame. I only came across it recently after my friend Can, who I run Tax Free Records with, pointed it out to me. I bought it for super nintendo right away and was pretty much blown away by it. Not only was the game very cool but the whole soundtrack is one of the sickest videogame soundtracks I ever heard. With the various ambiances of jungle scenes in the game I really got into synthetic nature sounds and field recording like landscapes made entirely out of sounds from synthesizers.

  • The Sound Inside A Drinking Water Tank

    I found this on record a while back, some very cool recordings of experimental music inside this drinking water tank close to cologne. I like the sound of natural reverbs and delays, I always try to work with that element when recording music.