The best thing to come out of Maryland since those waist-busting cookies, Brian Wayne Transeau may be approaching his 40th birthday but shows no sign of slowing down. Would you expect anything less than frenetic activity from the man who made it into the Guinness Book of Records for the track featuring the most vocal edits ever? 6,178, to be precise. He even recently ended his five year remix hiatus - fair enough when you've already re-jigged Madonna, Tom Jones, Diana Ross, Depeche Mode, Britney Spears, Tori Amos, The Doors and Deep Dish - not for a high profile (and highly bankable) pop mix but for relatively unknown American indie act Shiny New Toys, probably better known as the house band on kids' TV show Yo Gabba Gabba. Last year Brian also launched a software company, Sonik Architects, designing technology for the iPhone, but also somehow found time to put together his sixth studio album, and a double CD affair, at that. 'These Hopeful Machines' was released in February 2010, and with vocal contributions from Iron Maiden front-man Bruce Dickinson and veteran Opus 3 singer Kirsty Hawkshaw, plus a cover of an obscure track by '80s alternative rockers Psychedelic Furs (recorded on cassette!) no-one could ever accuse it of being dance music by numbers. Its release was equally controversial, as he offered it via online retailers only and formatted it as two long tracks rather than the 12 individual tunes. Having spawned several dancefloor monsters - 'The Rose Of Jericho', 'Every Other Way' and the download-only 'Suddenly' - before it dropped, Transeau notched up another two hits from the LP later this year in the shape of 'Forget Me' in June and the just-released fifth single 'The Emergency'. Who, indeed, aside from possibly Dizzee Rascal, could get away with confessing his new album was inspired by maths - not usually the most rock 'n' roll of subjects - or declare that he hopes his music "makes people feel that they have consumed something that completes a void" and get away with it? Brian, we salute you!
The best thing to come out of Maryland since those waist-busting cookies, Brian Wayne Transeau may be approaching his 40th birthday but shows no sign of slowing down. Would you expect anything less than frenetic activity from the man who made it into the Guinness Book of Records for the track featuring the most vocal edits ever? 6,178, to be precise. He even recently ended his five year remix hiatus - fair enough when you've already re-jigged Madonna, Tom Jones, Diana Ross, Depeche Mode, Britney Spears, Tori Amos, The Doors and Deep Dish - not for a high profile (and highly bankable) pop mix but for relatively unknown American indie act Shiny New Toys, probably better known as the house band on kids' TV show Yo Gabba Gabba. Last year Brian also launched a software company, Sonik Architects, designing technology for the iPhone, but also somehow found time to put together his sixth studio album, and a double CD affair, at that. 'These Hopeful Machines' was released in February 2010, and with vocal contributions from Iron Maiden front-man Bruce Dickinson and veteran Opus 3 singer Kirsty Hawkshaw, plus a cover of an obscure track by '80s alternative rockers Psychedelic Furs (recorded on cassette!) no-one could ever accuse it of being dance music by numbers. Its release was equally controversial, as he offered it via online retailers only and formatted it as two long tracks rather than the 12 individual tunes. Having spawned several dancefloor monsters - 'The Rose Of Jericho', 'Every Other Way' and the download-only 'Suddenly' - before it dropped, Transeau notched up another two hits from the LP later this year in the shape of 'Forget Me' in June and the just-released fifth single 'The Emergency'. Who, indeed, aside from possibly Dizzee Rascal, could get away with confessing his new album was inspired by maths - not usually the most rock 'n' roll of subjects - or declare that he hopes his music "makes people feel that they have consumed something that completes a void" and get away with it? Brian, we salute you!
