South London Ordnance Influences

 
Music

South London Ordnance marks his sophomore Hotflush release with an extended four-track EP that confidently flaunts his flair for brooding atmosphere. Dark, punchy basslines informed by a distinctly UK heritage are his signature and they bind these wee-hour refrains with brassy continuity. Launching of his own label last year – Aery Metals – and remixing Optimom the young UK producer has matured well beyond his years. Ahead of said release and his appearance at Random Magic this weekend we asked him to talk us through his influences taking in Aphex Twin, Mario 64, Jackson Pollock and Andy C @ Metalheadz no less.

South London Ordnance plays Random Magic this weekend.

Dj Spooky - Polyphony Of One

One of the first records I bought. Copped it for the trip hop trax – Peace in Zaire etc, but ultimately fell for the chopped breaks in Polyphony of One. Purchased in now non existent IS Records in South London when I was about 12/13. I bought all kinds of rubbish in there – most of which I still have but little of which I really dig out anymore, apart from a few bits and pieces like this. Always makes me very nostalgic – not because I’m a massive jungle head, realistically that whole scene was before my time, and not even because it’s an amazing record; but because it’s a record I got at that point where you’re just looking out stuff you like the sound of, with no agenda or bias or anything.

  • Dj Spooky - Polyphony Of One

    One of the first records I bought. Copped it for the trip hop trax – Peace in Zaire etc, but ultimately fell for the chopped breaks in Polyphony of One. Purchased in now non existent IS Records in South London when I was about 12/13. I bought all kinds of rubbish in there – most of which I still have but little of which I really dig out anymore, apart from a few bits and pieces like this. Always makes me very nostalgic – not because I’m a massive jungle head, realistically that whole scene was before my time, and not even because it’s an amazing record; but because it’s a record I got at that point where you’re just looking out stuff you like the sound of, with no agenda or bias or anything.

  • Fracture & Neptune Tutorial Pt. 2

    Yeah I really like the tracks these guys make, and this is a good tutorial on how to do something pivotal to their sound, which I use the whole time now. Basically, they show you how to saturate an 808 and filter the different frequencies to create a really dynamic distorted bassline. I don’t really use it in the same way as they do any more, but it’s still got all the important info there if ur interested in that kind of vibe.

  • Afx - Rubber Johnny

    Classic music vid from when electronic music had a sense of humour.

  • Jackson Pollock '51

    Just a video of Jackson Pollock talking about Jackson Pollock really. The vid is kind of unimportant, though actually watching it now, it’s quite good – I haven’t watched it for ages but I’m enjoying the lo fi finish. Anyway – my mum was a massive Pollock fan and took me to an exhibition when I was much younger. It took me years to get it, but now I spend quite a lot of time browsing his stuff. The more time I spend making music, making “things,” be they visual or aural, the more one sees patterns with the mess you’re sometimes left with, how the less rigid and more accidental elements of your art are usually the most directly linked to what’s in your head.

  • Mario 64

    I still occasionally have midly unsettling dreams about various spaces in this game. I think I played it too much. More nostalgia really. Don’t spend too much time watching that video, it’s actually quite irritating.

  • Katsuhiro Otomo - Akira

    Obviously everyone knows about Akira. Classic cyberpunk vibes. Shame the movie is so reduced – the books are a lot better, loads more depth. Movie still worth a watch though.

  • Andy C Metalheadz @ Cable 2010

    I can actually hear myself shouting in the back of this which is quite amusing. One of two great Metalheadz shows I went to in the same year, both featuring a 3hr set from Andy C. Obviously unmatched dexterity on the decks, but what made it great was it was ‘Headz so he could go as deep or as upfront as he liked. It was just cool to hear someone like him playing those records so creatively – three decks for three hours, no holds barred, absurdly fast mixing and not a clang in sight. Handy Andy.

  • Commix - Bear Music

    One of my favorite trax of this era. Incredible brooding atmosphere that I’ve tried to touch on in my music.