TEA Podcast #18 - Isolated Lines

Swiss duo Isolated Lines made up of Gwenael Magnenat and Simon Sol last year released their first and so far only EP on Greg Schappert aka Donor’s free net label Miniscule, with their track "Macer" receiving a strong remix from the New Yorkian (free to download along with every other release via Minsicule’s soundcloud). After a semi reluctant move back to Zurich from Berlin, Sol hooked up with Magnenat to form Isolated Lines, a name deriving from their experimentations with synthesis.

Isolated Lines dead paced style of production attaches itself to the legacy of dub techno, with clear influences of Rod Modell and DeepChord to Sascha Rydell and Fachwerk. Magnenat, a media engineering student recounts the days before his productions were geared toward the dance floor and says ‘I used to produce music that was a bit more experimental. I used to work at a lot of clubs and festivals as the guy who set up all the turntables. It was through that, that I really started getting into deep house and techno.’ Like many DJ’s before him Sol found house music through hip hop ‘I had a friend who was a hip-hop DJ and he taught me how to mix, it was about two years after that we started getting into house music. We would buy deep house records and play them after school.’

Since their "Pannonia Superior" EP the two have remixed local swiss band Casque (translates to Helmet in English.) ‘We really liked their track "Edgar" and asked if we could do a remix, which they were cool with.’ says Magnenat. ‘I think we will have one, maybe two EPs released later this year. Our second release should be out in a matter of weeks as well as another remix we have been working on’ adds Sol. Isolated Lines also launched their live show in late 2011 debuting at a local Swiss festival Les Digitales.

Magnenat and Sol remain modest about the clubbing situation in Zurich but name tag Hive Club, Zukunft and Cabaret as some of the cities better represented venues and the two are supporting Jeroen Search’s live show at a Motoguzzi release party on the 10th of February. As a precursor the two have compiled TEA's 18th podcast which features some healthy techno cuts from Mike Dehnert, Redshape, Adam Rivet and Skudge as well as their remix of Casque's "Edgar". This Swiss have made a strong name for themselves through house acts Deetron, Ripperton and Quarion as well as labels Drumpoet Community and Morris / Audio, whereas the Swiss techno fold has been a little underrepresented. It may only be their first baby steps but Isolated lines see themselves in a good stead to boost the profile of techno in Switzerland.

1.Nuel – A-Side [Aquaplano]
2.Mary Velo – Random [Coincidence Records]
3.Redshape – Plonk (Dub) [Present]
4.Mike Dehnert – RGS (Roman Lindau Remix) [Echocord Colour]
5.Martyn – Masks [Brainfeeder]
6.Shed – Well Done (030-Edit) [Soloaction Records]
7.Casque – Edgar (Isolated Lines Remix) [Unreleased]
8.Rivet – Slant [Naked Index]
9.Unbalance – 1#001 [Unbalance]
10.2562 – Wasteland (Head High Remix) [When In Doubt]
11.Marcel Dettmann – Translation Two [Ostgut Ton]
12.Mondo – Work Me Baby (Marcelus Interpretation) [Deeply Rooted House]
13.Skudge – Overture (Substance Remix) [Skudge Records]