I fucking love Blade Runner. Greatest movie ever made.
I watched it like a month ago and, if could, I'd watch it again this afternoon. That movie helped make me the person I am today... I first saw it in 4th grade, along with 1984 (which despite it being one of my favourite books, I actually don't remember at all; somehow I do have the Eurythmics soundtrack for it though on vinyl lol), and it changed my view of the world. I listened to the soundtrack every night before bed, dreaming of a world that matched the insides of my head... and obviously other people felt as fond of the music and the movie, to the degree that it changed the world itself!
Blade Runner is often sited as the visual representation of Detroit techno and was strongly embraced by the genre's originators (as Detroit looks like a bombed out futuristic hell). It's hard to find Detroit techno artists that haven't made some mention of it at some point (listen to Carl Craig's amazing Essential Mix that starts and ends with passages from the movie) , and equally as hard to find anime movies that don't make some mention of it or nod to it (see Akira, Ghost In The Shell, Bubblegum Crisis, etc)...
Of course, it came from the brilliant (paranoid) mind of Phillip K Dick, originally entitled "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?" in it's print form. The movie somewhat drastically altered the premise and story without making an abomination; in fact they did a great job at creating the alternate universe that these characters inhabited. A world that many people can relate to (even if some of it's technology potentially a hundred years away)...
Why mention all this? Well Olli Collins obviously got bitten by the Blade Runner bug as his new album is called "Counting Electric Sheep". He makes electro tracks that... well, just calling them electro isn't fair they're so dope. And they for sure will be seen as another great work added to the countless other works of art influenced by the greatest story on earth...
Here's a little more press to let you know what's up...
DJ, producer and Eleven Recordings record label boss, Olli Collins looks set to slay the dancefloors with his upcoming debut album, "Counting Electric Sheep", featuring 12 sonic blasts of electro grit mastered at Alchemy Studios, Soho.
Like the bastard child of Modeselektor, Booka Shade and Slagsmalklubben (a love triangle not at odds with Collins eclectic and layered sound), Ollis debut offering features catchy funk-rock-tinged licks that would sit with aplomb on any Get Physical compilation.
In a career that has taken him from working as a sound engineer at Bagleys to resident DJ for MTV in Ibiza and stints at clubs including Space, The Cross, Ministry Of Sound and Pacha, Olli has become a widely respected DJ.
Counting Electric Sheep grips the listener immediately with captive opener Rain; an electric storm, featuring the pitter-patter of rain interspersed with swathes of sub-bass and punchy electronic leads. The albums grip refuses to yield as the listener is taken through a journey of 11 more compelling tracks, featuring the superb Slug, Sundown and Dreamseeker that buzzes and glows, making this album the essential soundtrack to any after-dark excursion.
Olli Collins- "Another World"
Olli Collins- "Daybreak"
Check out more at www.myspace.com/ollicollins
It's some good shit... consider it an early Christmas present lol. I'll try to be back as quick as I can... although I think you know we're ALL a little busy at the moment... cheers!
P.s. I never get to take time to talk about anything other than music so I'm going to allow myself to have some fun with this...
The cultural references to Blade Runner and "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?" seem endless. It's hard to even know where to start...
Let me say that if you HAVEN'T seen it I suggest starting with the "Final Cut" version. Before that, the best version you could get your hand on was the "1991 Directors Cut" version which omitted the original narration from Harrison Ford. The original was dismissed when it was released as a flimsy Star Wars knock off because, in it's attempt to gain a solid commercial foothold, it had Harrison Ford giving an awful blow by blow of everything that was happening in the movie (this original version also had a "happy ending" void of the existential dread in the directors cut). Taking this narration out, and returning the original more 'carpe diem' ending, added the the vast space and anxiety in the film (making it more thought provoking and artistically stunning). Whether it was just the stark futuristic eye candy of the original, or the mind bending existential dilemma's of the directors cut, the movie has influenced many many many artists in both film and music...
Where shall we start... Well first off, one of the things that drew me to Frankmusik was him siting his music as "Blade Runner pop"... One of the more popular references that people recognize is is White Zombie's "More Human Than Human" single... there have been a few bands called the Replicants... Photek's "Modus Operandi" album had songs whose key components were background noise from the Blade Runner film, and often while interviewing him, or writing articles people would site the movie or use it's imagery to accompany his sounds... let's see, what else... there's a line in Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind where they say something line for line from Blade Runner (presumably because both movies deal with memory)... there was actually a Japanese Porno movie called "I.K.U." that is set in the same universe as Blade Runner (I used to own it and I gotta say, if you want something truly obscene this isn't going to be your thing; it's more of a visually stunning slice of smut).
I could go on and on... but you see the significance of this cultural phenomenon :)
Just in case you have never had the pleasure of seeing this brilliant film here are a couple clips...
Here was the trailer for the souped up, 20 years in the making, "Final Cut"
Here's the original (very long) trailer for the film...
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