On Web Culture

Source: Pitch Black

It’s the mid-ninties, The Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers are huge and Gatecrasher and Ibiza are the discerning travelers choice of destination. As good a time as any to be starting a electronica band, only you’re based in New Zealand seemingly at the end of the world. Luckily a fledging event called The Gathering down in Nelson has just started happening annually over New Years so you play a gig there. 10 years later, Pitch Black are still around pumping their brand of dubby electronica, one of the true originators from the very beginning of New Zealand’s dance scene.

Paddy Free and Michael Hodgson are names you should commit to memory and tell your grandchildren about. Futureproof, released on KOG in 1998 is a seminal release and that year won Best NZ Electronic Album of the Year at the bNet Music Awards. Pavement Magazine said: “This debut collection from Paddy Free and Mike Hodgson wipes the floor with all who have come before and sets a new benchmark by which all future local electronica releases will be measured.” They followed that album up with Electronomicon in 2000 which contained tunes like “Reptile Room” and “Unadrumma”. A remix of this album followed in 2001 called Electric Earth and Other Elements including the Sunshine Sound System Remix of “Unadrumma” which was featured on a compilation by LOOP Recordings and on the The Gathering‘s 2002 CD.

Native Tongue, who publish Pitch Black’s music, say Pitch Black are one of New Zealand’s top artists for film and television tracks (nativetongue). It is after all about getting your music heard and Pitch Black have been smart to find ways to do that. Like Electronomicon, their latest album Ape to Angel was also followed up by a remix of the same album. Ape to Angel has been their biggest selling album in New Zealand.

Pitch Black is the combination of two diverse talents. Paddy Free has worked in capacities of programmer, engineer or producer with the likes of Crowded House, Neil Finn, Supergroove, Emma Paki, Stellar*, Oceania, and Salmonella Dub. Michael Hodgson was involved in developing Mideo, a video sampler that enables real-time triggering of full-motion video from a synthesizer keyboard. This background has been important in developing the live visual experience of Pitch Black.

Pitch Black continue as musicians and producers, touring the US/UK earlier this year and Japan in May. In August they will be back in New Zealand playing hallowed dance meccas like Whangaparoa. Well, they do say never stop working! Free’s debut solo album is scheduled for release in the middle of 2007 and a new Pitch Black album is due in September.

LINKS
Pitch Black – Ape To Angel [smokecds.com]