London producer elshuffles returns with his sophomore album accurately described as a melting pot of techno, ambient, drone and electronica influences. Who Bang The Noise offers fifteen tracks that tangle a myriad of found sounds, subtle clicks, and atmospheric layers that cut through emotional power («The Ends») to more bleak, crumbling soundscapes («My Isolation») and dense dissipation similar to Fennesz («To Them»). While the plethora of strangely captivating noises bend and warp («Hearts And Thoughts»), the shuffles find solace in dark sonic shapes and micro-melodic fibers («Snapshot») as drifting drones and ghostly technoid elements evolve from nothing like the first Plastikman. works («Lost for a while» and «Give me a reason»). These sporadic sonic gaps unfurl on Who Bang The Noise, swapping glitch-like flashes («Inquisitive Without You») and darker, sizzling grooves («(Busy) Livin») where fractured vocals float ever so slightly. Overall, an unusually captivating collection of fluttering electronic and evocative audio works that just evaporate.
We have had the pleasure of interviewing him and this has been the result.
Hi, great to have you with us today! How are you and where are you chatting to us from right now?
Hey, yeah I’m good thanks, Im in East London just on the chill.
Can you give us a bit of background about your journey in music so far?
Its feels a pretty long journey, one of the starting points was MTV and guitar bands such as Nirvana and Tool. I then discovered more electronic music through artists such as Portishead and Everything but the Girl. Since then Ive remained drawn to both types of music, but electronic has so much to offer, so many sub genres. So many which Im into such as ambient and drone and more.
Your latest album is inexorably tied to London – what is it about the city that inspired you?
It’s everything, the city is just electric. it has everything and everyone. I didn’t set out to make the album so focussed, but living in the city has obviously had an effect and found its way onto the album.
Do you think it’s fair to say there’s a certain oppressiveness to a lot of the tracks on the album in terms of atmosphere? Does that reflect how you feel about the city?
I’ll let people make their own mind up on that one. I think the city has lots going on, and there’s definitely people and areas that need more, but I try and focus on what’s good and what I can control.
During the pandemic there was a lot of talk about what things people would like to change in the music industry. Now that things are getting back to normal, do you see any major changes?
The pandemic was definitely challenging to say the least for lots of people involved in the industry. But from my point of view it gave me time to refocus and realign. And then sit down and work on lots of fresh music. That was my attempt to make good out of the situation.
What’s on the cards for you for the rest of 2023?
I’m always making music, so we’ll have to see if anything comes of that. Ive got ideas for the next project but it’s a wait and see thing! Im also working on putting a live show together so watch this space on that one.
