Love is the Message
October 14, 2014 9:01 AM Subscribe
Electronic music pioneer and one half of LFO, Mark Bell, has died following complications after an operation his record label has announced.
Bell and partner Gez Varley, recording as LFO (an abbreviation of Low-Frequency Oscillator, a type of synthesizer), defined the "bleep" sound often associated with Warp Records and early to mid 90s English Electronic music. After LFO split in 1996 Bell worked with artists such as Radiohead, Bjork and Depeche Mode.
The Guardian has compiled a list of 10 of his essential tracks.
Bell and partner Gez Varley, recording as LFO (an abbreviation of Low-Frequency Oscillator, a type of synthesizer), defined the "bleep" sound often associated with Warp Records and early to mid 90s English Electronic music. After LFO split in 1996 Bell worked with artists such as Radiohead, Bjork and Depeche Mode.
The Guardian has compiled a list of 10 of his essential tracks.
I never really got into LFO, though I respect them as founders of a genre I love, and was a bit shocked and saddened to hear the news. I'm terrified to think what I'll feel when one of the ae boys goes. ALL YOU IDM PRODUCERS STAY ALIVE, YOU HEAR ME?
posted by symbioid at 9:15 AM on October 14, 2014
posted by symbioid at 9:15 AM on October 14, 2014
This. Is going. To make me weep.
posted by steganographia at 9:25 AM on October 14, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by steganographia at 9:25 AM on October 14, 2014 [4 favorites]
Mark Bell was a sweetheart, always ready to connect with fellow electronic music enthusiasts and aspiring musicians, always ready to offer encouragement and advice. I chatted with him a few times back in the day on Soulseek. He was as much of a music lover and fan as an artist and I had the impression he was deeply grateful for being able to spend his time doing what he loved. He also had an impish, prankish side and that may be what I end up missing most about him. Goodbye, Mark.
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posted by fleetmouse at 9:28 AM on October 14, 2014 [7 favorites]
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posted by fleetmouse at 9:28 AM on October 14, 2014 [7 favorites]
∿
posted by schmod at 9:46 AM on October 14, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by schmod at 9:46 AM on October 14, 2014 [6 favorites]
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posted by lalochezia at 9:49 AM on October 14, 2014
posted by lalochezia at 9:49 AM on October 14, 2014
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posted by a lungful of dragon at 9:49 AM on October 14, 2014
posted by a lungful of dragon at 9:49 AM on October 14, 2014
For anyone else as initially confused as I was, they are not this LFO. That is a different band.
posted by DGStieber at 9:53 AM on October 14, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by DGStieber at 9:53 AM on October 14, 2014 [2 favorites]
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I know, I thought the same thing DGStieber. We already lost Rich, now two members of LFO have died? We're due for an investigation on the safety of teen-pop-rap from 1999.
posted by ALongDecember at 10:00 AM on October 14, 2014 [2 favorites]
I know, I thought the same thing DGStieber. We already lost Rich, now two members of LFO have died? We're due for an investigation on the safety of teen-pop-rap from 1999.
posted by ALongDecember at 10:00 AM on October 14, 2014 [2 favorites]
I saw this sad news early this morning and was floored, as one of the last things I did the night before was recommend LFO to a friend. Frequencies was absolutely seminal.
an abbreviation of Low-Frequency Oscillator, a type of synthesizer
Actually, an LFO is component of a synthesizer (namely a modulation source)
posted by exogenous at 10:03 AM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
an abbreviation of Low-Frequency Oscillator, a type of synthesizer
Actually, an LFO is component of a synthesizer (namely a modulation source)
posted by exogenous at 10:03 AM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
He was the Lytest of the Funkie Ones.
posted by saintjoe at 10:05 AM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by saintjoe at 10:05 AM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
heard this yesterday and was waiting to see if it showed up here with any more details. so sad. according to wikipedia he was only 43.
bf and i spun frequencies last night, i'm going to put it on again now.
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posted by ghostbikes at 10:08 AM on October 14, 2014
bf and i spun frequencies last night, i'm going to put it on again now.
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posted by ghostbikes at 10:08 AM on October 14, 2014
Dammit. He was only 43? So sad.
posted by no_surprises at 10:12 AM on October 14, 2014
posted by no_surprises at 10:12 AM on October 14, 2014
The way he fucked with the decay and velocity of the snares on this Bjork track is everything. (We can assume it was him; he's credited as drum programmer.)
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posted by naju at 10:13 AM on October 14, 2014 [4 favorites]
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posted by naju at 10:13 AM on October 14, 2014 [4 favorites]
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posted by saulgoodman at 10:29 AM on October 14, 2014
posted by saulgoodman at 10:29 AM on October 14, 2014
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posted by oceanjesse at 10:43 AM on October 14, 2014
posted by oceanjesse at 10:43 AM on October 14, 2014
ALongDecember: I know, I thought the same thing DGStieber. We already lost Rich, now two members of LFO have died? We're due for an investigation on the safety of teen-pop-rap from 1999.
The coroners inquest concluded that a Chinese food contributed to his fatal illness.
posted by dr_dank at 10:49 AM on October 14, 2014
The coroners inquest concluded that a Chinese food contributed to his fatal illness.
posted by dr_dank at 10:49 AM on October 14, 2014
♪
posted by Smart Dalek at 11:11 AM on October 14, 2014
posted by Smart Dalek at 11:11 AM on October 14, 2014
The way he fucked with the decay and velocity of the snares on this Bjork track is everything. (We can assume it was him; he's credited as drum programmer.)
IIRC she went from working with a bunch of producers on Post to just him on Homogenic. It's an outstanding album.
posted by Artw at 11:30 AM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
IIRC she went from working with a bunch of producers on Post to just him on Homogenic. It's an outstanding album.
posted by Artw at 11:30 AM on October 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
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He produced Bjork's Joga among other songs - one of my absolute favorites. Rest in bleepy crunchy peace.
posted by shortfuse at 3:52 PM on October 14, 2014
He produced Bjork's Joga among other songs - one of my absolute favorites. Rest in bleepy crunchy peace.
posted by shortfuse at 3:52 PM on October 14, 2014
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posted by Artw at 9:07 AM on October 14, 2014