Back in March, Kieran ran a feature on Phenoplastic’s debut album and he did a wee interview with him, the album in question “Presented In Colour” was a brilliant package of top quality IDM and electronica, wearing it’s influences on it’s sleeve but shaking free of them throughout and walking it’s own path.

May 2010 sees Phenoplastic’s new album “Liquid Condition” released and it’s more of the same, opening with unsettling pads and floaty synth work complimented by some lovely bass playing. Ranging from eerie, almost completely ambient pieces to more beat driven tracks, the whole album definitely does have a Boards of Canada feel to it and while Phenoplastic will no doubt grow tired of the comparison, it’s certainly a compliment.

I’ve picked my favourite track below for you to listen to and download – but you can download the whole kit and caboodle over at Phenoplastic’s Bandcamp page.

Phenoplastic – Surface Light

If you’re a fan of Aphex Twin or Boards of Canada, or just a fan of quality IDM electronica, then you should really give Phenoplastic‘s recent release “Presented In Colour” a listen.

Hailing from the “dear green place” of Glasgow, Phenoplastic (aka Paul Harrison) is an upcoming musician producing music that is, on the one hand reminiscent of tracks you might have heard before, and at the same time, utterly original.

Kieran (PL)- “So, tell us a bit about yourself- how did you get into writing electronic music?”

Phenoplastic- “Well… I’m a jazz musician mainly – a piano player, though I’ve been making electronica for far longer, since I was about 14. It all began when my Commodore 64, which was pretty cool for music at the time, was replaced by an Amiga 500, and I started making tunes with the tracker software everyone was using back then.

I have tapes and tapes of stuff from back then (the very early 90s) which I dug out recently and listened to again. Nothing releasable there though, I think, though it was great to hear them again!”

Kieran (PL)- “What does your studio setup consist of? What did you use for ‘Presented In Colour’?”

Phenoplastic- “The album was produced using Logic, mainly with softsynths and all kinds of plugins. I’m always looking for new ways to distort and dirty sounds. I’ve always thought that the post-digital obsession with ‘hi-fi’ was misplaced and that more lo-fi sounds can communicate more spirit and soul. I don’t know why this is, though. I also suppose I use some of my jazz influences to bring in weird melodies – different kinds of melodies and harmonies that you don’t often hear with electronica.”

Kieran (PL)- “Anything else you think we should know about Phenoplastic? “

Phenoplastic- “….I should tell you that I’ve started on the follow up to ‘Presented in Colour’. No idea when it will be done though!

Many thanks to Phenoplastic for taking the time to answer a few questions for us!

If you’re liking the tracks below you can download the entire album, in all its various digital formats, for free here.

Phenoplastic – The Alms

Phenoplastic – Skellybob Wood

(Right click and “save as” to download)
Phenoplastic – Hawaii 61