Markus Popp
Oval and beyond.
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- Markus Popp’s now legendary early album releases sent shockwaves through the“electronica” landscape in the late 1990’s—introducing a unique, new sound and digitalproduction aesthetic. With an undeniable instinct for the pleasantly irritating, the drasticand the dreamy, Popp pioneered “glitch” and “clicks & cuts”, inspiring and provoking anentire generation of musicians to this day.After a long hiatus, Oval is back, changing the game all over again with a new,groundbreaking “hyperreal” style and no less than 150+ compelling tracks, spanning twoEPs (Oh EP and Oval/Liturgy split EP), two double CDs/DVDs (O and OvalDNA) as well as abrand new, surprise collaboration album (Calidostópia!) - proving him as one of the prolific and influential forces in contemporary electronic music, a true visionary of digital audio and beyond.PAST ACHIEVEMENTSThe distinctive, organic appeal of Popp’s 1990s tracks, remixes and albums are regarded aswatershed moments for the genre: timeless, haunting classics, earning him critical acclaimall over the world and an occasional media/art award here and there.Popp has continuously refined his instantly recognizable, signature style in numerousmusical collaborations, most notably with the long-running projects MICROSTORIA (duowith Mouse On Mars’ Jan St. Werner) and SO (with Japanese songwriter extraordinaireEriko Toyoda). Popp has also worked for/with: Björk, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Apparat,Tortoise, Mouse on Mars, Warren Suicide, Squarepusher, Jim O’Rourke, Pizzicato 5, GastrDel Sol etc.Newer additions to Popp’s portfolio are audio for film, installation art, dance andinteractive media. He designed his own music software (Ovalprocess, his interactiveaudio installation platform, won Prix Ars Electronica), contributed a secret bonus stage toTetsuya Mitsuguchi’s visionary video game REZ (Sega/Sony) as well as original sound trackwork for contemporary dance pieces and for several art house movies and TV commercials(Armani, Comme Des Garcons, Prada, Harmony Korine, Amberley Productions and MasakoTanaka).Over the course of many lectures, workshops and presentations, Popp has shared hiscreative vision with topics ranging from today’s digital audio workflow and open source tointeractive design and video games.A NEW OVAL SOUND—HE ONLY CHANGED EVERYTHINGIn 2010, the Oh EP and the subsequent Double-CD O (both on Chicago-based Thrill JockeyRecords) opened an exciting new chapter in Popp’s ongoing critical dialog with music. Thisstriking, 101-track extravaganza was a radical departure: as before, Oval was challengingmusic-as-we-know-it, but now things were happening on music’s own turf.Out of nowhere, Popp debuted as a studio producer of unexpected versatility beyond theelectronic music arena. O—which received a honorary mention by the Prix Ars Electronica2011—is a wild ride: exploring a wide spectrum from delicate, sophisticated pop vignettesto brutally torn, electro-acoustic riffing full of angular, colliding guitar work accompaniedby “free”, yet ultra-precise acoustic “live” drumming.This new, post-2010 Oval sound is a celebration of the next level of skill and sensibilityin contemporary music: handcrafted polyrhythmic phrases, riffs and structures, bristlingwith tiny resonances and detail—adding up to fluid, timeless tunes that are effortlesslytraversing rhythms, scales and harmonies while always remaining compact and catchy.And despite its picturesque, accessible “songwriter 2.0” trappings, O is by no means arevisionist, kitschy “love letter to music”.OvalDNA (2012), Popp’s 35-track, opus magnum-esque, two-disc (CD + DVD-ROM)multimedia release is taking things to the next level: OvalDNA is part rarities-compilation(featuring previously unreleased and hard-to-find tracks from 1993–2010), part open sourcemanifesto (the DVD-ROM contains a sound file library of 2000+ original source clips)—plusOval’s “lost” 2007 album, a professional video documentary, music videos, liner notes,ten bonus tracks and a new piece of music productivity software. OvalDNA has instantlyreceived very favorable reviews worldwide, has been proclaimed “best new reissue” byPitchfork.com and has won the prestigious 2013 QWARTZ-Award.Popp’s newest work, Calidostópia!, supported by Goethe Institutes and cultural foundationof the state of Bahia, is the result of a 10-day, blind-date-esque studio session withseven young, talented singers from all over South America and was recorded in SalvadorDe Bahia/Brazil. Rapid prototyping + unlimited enthusiasm + working in three shifts =metamelomusical supermerger. Popp came to Brazil with tons of released as well asunreleased material—and returned home with dozens of all-new, beautiful songs. Best ofall, Calidostópia! is a free, legal download from www.markuspopp.me.In an age of fiddling with frequencies, Markus Popp keeps on reinventing music—merginguncompromising high tech with compelling musicality: distinctly doing his own thing, yetalways enthusiastically dealing with the “now”.
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- Just in from the pressing plant, just in time for my B-day - wow, thank you so much for all those wishes BTW - the next batch of VOA LPs! 180g vinyl quality pressing, great sound, nice print, cheapest price anywhere. Includes digital album + music video + a free Calidostópia! CD (while supplies last). http://oval.bandcamp.com/album/voa
- You know what's back? Remixes! I'll be working on tracks/sounds/files by Mouse On Mars, Aunt Dracula and Spartak (AUS).
- Here is a glimpse of what went down at that airshow for the ANTIGEL festival in Geneva on Saturday - and if you listen closely, you can even detect some Oval audio in there. Stay tuned for the properly mixed, multi-camera, 13-minute version...and the full, free-to-download soundtrack!
- This afternoon: Oval live in Geneva! My first live score/set for a dance piece performed by...propeller airplanes.
- Wow - that recent free Bandcamp weekend saw thousands of downloads... and quite a few donations, too! Thank you so much! I am very happy to tell you that I am slowly getting back on track...step 1: a live soundtrack for an airshow :)
- Here's my "thank you" to all who wished me well (feels truly awesome to see all that support). Download my entire Bandcamp catalog (except VOA) FOR FREE until Sunday night! Donations welcome...looks like I'll be facing an astronomical medical bill...thank you! https://oval.bandcamp.com/
- Thank you for an exciting, inspiring 2013! Download this overlooked classic/hidden gem (not my own words - you be the judge) for FREE until 01-01-2014...enjoy! http://oval.bandcamp.com/album/so
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Tweets
- NSTSD day 2. Who would have thought, say, 10 years ago that in 2012, a USB 1.1 hub and MIDI(!) can still save the day? Also, controller day.Jul 31, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- No sleep 'til Salvador diary day 1. Everything feels familiar, except what took me 2 years last time now has to happen in 2 weeks. Showtime!Jul 30, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Can you help me out with (HD) footage of my "Trance Mission" stage in REZ? I lack the time to capture myself playing to that point.Thanks!Jun 07, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- This afternoon: "Oval - Full Circle"-lecture at the RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY in Istanbul. Also, Oval live set at 9 PM! http://t.co/WOJfHVx0May 19, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- New, "first steps"-type tutorial for OvalDNA player software now up on http://t.co/5oC3DrN7. Also, now with proper URL: http://t.co/rvwLUaLVMay 16, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Wow, I have 60+ singers to choose from for that "Oval + vocals" collaboration project touring seven South American countries this summer!?!May 11, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- DL my brand new lecture/showcase proposal (synopsis, pics, press, specs, tech, bio) from markuspopp.me! Get in touch! Hope to see you soon!May 09, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Help me find lecture opportunities for my OvalDNA workshop/showcase (script + “making-of"s + new tracks + 2 Oval software demos) - thanks!May 07, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Brand new landing page: tons of Oval tracks, videos, photos etc in one place. Also, *huge* info/press/promo pack! http://t.co/gSA50wjIMay 03, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Updating the OvalDNA player FAQ to v0.16 right now. You should see it on http://t.co/L17voO8S pretty soon.May 01, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- OvalDNA software out now! Grab your DL code & visit http://t.co/iaI9lRk9. We'd love to hear from you - see you on http://t.co/L17voO8S!May 01, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
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Albums
- 18 tracks
Buy*BANDCAMP EXCLUSIVE* - digital version includes "Voa" music video (720p, mp4), directed by Darko Dragičević! After its critically acclaimed (and massively downloaded) sister album Calidostópia! (released in March 2013), VOA is the true next step for the collaboration of electronic music legend Markus Popp aka Oval with several wonderful singers/musicians from all over South America. VOA offers the previously unreleased “A“-selection of recordings from those legendary Salvador da Bahia sessions plus brand new Oval material - adding up to an 18-track metamelomusical supermerger, chock full of genre-defying, mesmerizing songs and haunting, sensual melodies that does not cease to surprise. From the chilling vocals and multilayered guitar excursions of Agustín Albrieu to Aiace’s sensual, radiant folklore style, from Hana Kobayashi’s inventive pop sensibilities to Maité Gadea’s earthy, soulful interpretations of two classics from the Oval guitar songbook of the future. Also, the pleasantly unpredictable avant-pop quirkyness of Laptop songwriter Andrés Gualdrón. All this adds up to a pretty wild ride - and in a seemingly effortless, strangely organic way. And what Dandara does to these two songs can only be described as magical. They are also featured in an enchanting music video with breathtaking performances by actresses Ursula Doll and Daniela Lucato, directed by filmmaker/visual artist Darko Dragičević (of Oval’s “Ah!” music video fame). This album is a true next-gen experience, a celebration of musicality evolved - it takes the hyperreal, hi-impact songwriting of the new Oval sound to a new level, resulting in a unique, intensely emotional style that none of both parties involved would have ever come up with on their own…VOA is like a sky with two suns, a musical asterisk that points straight into the unknown.-
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Credit Line (feat. Andrés Gualdrón)02:08
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Heroic (feat. Dandara)02:34
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Oslo (feat. Hana Kobayashi)01:18
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Flageo (feat. Aiace)01:36
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Habitat (feat. Maité Gadea)01:55
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BuyNo. 2 of two special promo giveaway EPs accompanying the release of 2010's double album "O".-
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- 8 tracks
BuyThe first of two special promo giveaway EPs accompanying the release of 2010's double album "O".-
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- 15 tracks
BuyMarkus Popp’s first “Oval” release after almost a decade of silence is a spectacular departure from the deconstructivist electronica that made him a laptop legend. Instead, and totally out of nowhere, this 15-track EP establishes Popp as an accomplished musician, who is delivering a glimpse of his very own exciting flavor of "free" music in the best sense of the word. Mind you, we’re not talking about just another laptop producer who is hiring a bunch of musicians for occasional live shows, but Popp delivering a true tour-de-force of improvised music beyond boundaries which still always ensures to deliver (and expand) that very special, haunting Oval atmosphere. This meticulously crafted EP is indeed a wild ride - and it is in fact so fundamentally different in almost every imaginable way (Guitars? Are those actual drums?!?) that we will instead conveniently list what remains unchanged: Popp’s latest tracks still have this almost unsettling, organic, soothing atmosphere that has made Oval tracks and remixes such timeless classics. What makes this new release especially exciting, is that Popp effortlessly merges totally unexpected musicianship with his sensibility for abstract, angular electronics and blends them into a vibrantly colorful music that truly feels alive. The new Oval sound is so arresting, emotional and dynamic that all distinctions like “programmed vs. played”, “laptop vs. improvisation” or “acoustic vs. electronic” are rendered meaningless. This EP (and forthcoming Double CD) are an attempt at breaking new ground, just as “Systemisch” single-handedly created the glitch movement back in the 90s, which continues to provoke and inspire many music producers all over the world to this day. The 2010 Oval sound is an equally radical departure from what else is out there today - and yet, it’s more accessible than ever. Still one question remains: how did he do it? The most important paradigm for the new sound was that everything should be done the exact opposite way from how it was done in the past. Popp exclusively used (cheap) commercially available software and plug-ins instead of programming his own. He utilized one (four years old at that) $500 stock PC instead of several high-end Macs. All the virtual instruments are played with his own hands. And last but certainly not least, scales, harmonics, and melody are the foundation of this music instead of theory and meta-discourse. Popp remarks that "after years of dissection and denial I wanted to try making 'real' music for a change. The design goals for the short side B tracks were to attain the sense of a familiar sound and 'ringtone'. While it took me years to get the tech aspect down, the tracks themselves are pretty much recorded live and from here, I am very much looking forward to evolving this setup like a real band." In a sense, this new Oval music as a whole is a trompe l'oeil, an acoustic illusion. But it's a very convincing one, to a point, where you don't insist on the specific qualities of the "original" any longer. These days, a flock of birds in the distance in a movie scene is simply "there", whether it was actually part of the shot or just added digitally in post - it just doesn't make a difference any more. - 13 tracks
BuySo began in 2002 with the pair of Eri and Markus Popp (Oval, Microstoria). So is a true symmetrical duo as both members equally contribute to the songwriting and processing. An absolute departure from Oval, So’s debut CD is a melodic, at times soothing, technological demonstration. The album was initially begun as a reworking of a song cycle from Eri’s archives. These archives are comprised of a vast collection of diverse materials she recorded in her parents’ house in Mito-City, Japan. Their sound represents a significant departure from the dense, abrasion of Oval's ground-breaking Commers series, and instead moves towards more airy and organic tones. The inclusion of vocals - processed and natural - and live instrumentation allow for So's music to expand far beyond the constraints of the purely digital. Perhaps following formats will allow the listener to fully convey the peculiar and conflicting underlying personal and musical dynamics at work here. Despite the at times colorful, detailed and balanced musical presentation internally, So derives most of its momentum from constant confrontation with Markus and Eri’s conceptualizations and implementations of music. The actual collaborative process is more a resemblance of an 18th century naval battle than a convenience exercise in file sharing. Fundamentally different in countless respects, Oval recordings are linear and strategic on the planning board as well as in practice. So, however, lost the compass from the beginning and is a free project. Recording of the final version of So began in 2002 and is actually not yet finished. Being more of a "tech demo" it was worked on until ten minutes before the FedEx person came to pick up the CD-R. Vocal recordings and guitar were re-recorded directly into the PowerBook’s internal mic. Even though this CD is his most painstaking and complex work to date, Markus would like to see his contribution described as "art direction." Album artwork was created by Katsumi Yokota, the prolific Japanese illustrator who made contributions to the most experimental stages of the United Game Artist’s video game classic, Rez (released for Dreamcast and PS2 in 2002). There are no song titles as So finds it doesn’t make sense and is too much of a compromise to put English song titles to Japanese lyrics.-
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- 15 tracks
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