Jonathan R Cross
Techno / Synthesizers / Electronica - Improvised live techno, with Jazzy Sprinkles
Jazz infused Techno again
Jazz, and techno, blended in rhythm, syncopation and groove. Begins with a loop
Sneaky basslines, and then some sweeeeet keys. fused all over the place.
And eventually, it results in a full live set, all improvised from scratch.
Episode 121, immortalised in release format. Edited from the main stream, (talking removed)
Luminiferous Aether
Made for a Secret Santa gift jam for another jammer, called Luminiferous Aether/Yteiset Kainalot. This is a chilled jam with a jazz piano solo in the middle
9th December 2024 - JRC's apple set list is now available
Apple have recently given artists the ability to create a playlist related to a live show. I took the opportunity to create this set list to see how it works.
Released 4th November 2024
Modal Derivative Modal derivative is an approach to compute a reduced basis for model order reduction of large‐scale nonlinear systems that typically stem from the discretization of partial differential equations.
Modal jazz is jazz that makes use of musical modes, often modulating among them to accompany the chords instead of relying on one tonal center used across the piece.
The track is called 'Modal Derivative' because I was interested in the interplay between the maths definition and the jazz definition.
Released 26th September 2024
Changing Seasons. As we hurtle through time and space, one of the outward displays of the changing season is the length of each day, as it shortens, leading towards longer nights.
That feeling of change. Ever present.
New Release - Purple Techno
Released on 1st September. A wonky purple techno banger of a track, with a colour-based nod to Inky da Cat (RIP).
Jazz Infused Techno - released on 21st July 2024
A full live, improvised hardware set.
The cover art is a pastel picture drawn by JRC, the music was inspired by summer heat, and the Red warning temperatures
<<<< Click the image
New Release - Interrupt.
The cover art is from a winter installation, showing a tree covered in LEDs
<<<< Scroll on the embedded link
New Release - Grid Formation. Featuring the sounds of the Roland TR909 drum machine.
And also a nice image of a metro-platform in the sunlight of an early morning.
Loving the shadows!
Scroll on the embedded link >>>>
My setup, and how it works.
My setup, Fast Version!
Releases:
Retrograde - When life is sending you backwards, slap this on and get dancing!
Acid Yellow - A jam made to celebrate 3/03 day (TB 303 day on the 3rd of March). Using the acidic sounds of the TD3
Re-Entry Burn. The feeling and sensation of re-entering the earth's atmosphere from space.
Composed using the Behringer Edge, Roland TR8s, and Korg Kaosspad2
Escape Velocity - The feeling of breaking through the atmosphere out into the vast, cold expanse of space
Sentience - awareness, living organisms, aware of their own existence. This jam dates from 2020, but now repurposed for release. It's a minimal acid-inspired trip into the meaning of awareness. Sounding with a wintry theme which haunts across the top of the techno. Originally created for Hardware jams, and a weekend challenge called 'Free for all'. Enjoy!
Challenge prompt for this track: "The mighty KLF once claimed “It’s grim up north” - but we beg to differ! Our beloved city of Sheffield has a long history of steel-making. One of the machines used in this process was known as the “drop hammer” - an enormous multi-ton hammer that stamped out the steel when it was still soft. The booms of the hammers dropping, that ran 24/7, would echo through the valleys and could be heard many miles away. This sound was hugely influential on the electronic music that has emerged from here, dating back over 50 years.
Legendary electronic music from our city that you may have heard of includes Cabaret Voltaire, Heaven 17, The Human League, Clock DVA, WARP Records, I Monster and Sweet Exorcist. Clearly many genres, not just “industrial techno”!
We challenge you to imagine that you can hear the drop hammers in the middle of the night, permeating your consciousness as you make your music, whatever it may be, and make us a jam that reflects this.
Points and numbers are still meaningless but we will be impressed by clangourousness, wit and groove in equal parts."
Movement - Made for a Hardware jams weekend challenge where the theme was... Surprisingly... 'Movement'
Blank Friday - released on 18th January 2023, originally made for a 'Blank Slate' Hardware Jams weekend challenge.
When lockdown hit, a friend running a youtube page and facebook group, organised an online festival. Clownfest was born. Just past it's ninth iteration, there are plans for Clownfest X to be in a field, in person! This is a collection of all my clownfest sets, and will continue to grow with every new Clownfest set I create.
Elemental Fire: Released 22nd November 2021, Click the pic to listen.
This was a hardware jam for the "Four Elements" challenge week. It ended up being played on BBC Radio Newcastle Introducing, so I decided to release it. (It's also available on Bandcamp) Click the pic to get to the track.
"Noise Storm" Released 14th April 2021 - Created for Noise week for hardware jams, this one is agressive, noisy and dirty. Already on bandcamp, as part of "Winter" collection, here's some links
https://go.jonathanrcross.com/noisestorm
More links here
Previous releases: "Altered States"
An epic journey of a track, which will transport you through space and time, via an interdimensional portal of sound, no less. Ambient beginnings build and evolve into a thick driving techno beat with a twisted synth lead that confuses, disturbs and twists your brain into forming new pathways.
Time seems to shift around, only the regular gravitational pulse of the kick keeps grounding you as you ascend.
Created and performed live using the Roland TR8s (Drums and Tape Echo FX), The Arturia Microfreak (Main twisted synth sound), Korg Monologue (Introduction synth), Modal Skulpt (Pad sounds), Korg NTS-1 (reverb).
It’s a journey. So sit tight, and see where you end up.
Straight up slamming techno for this one, a glitchy intro from the Arturia Microfreak giving some noise, and then joined by the Korg Monologue on the higher pitched arpeggiated sound. Roland TR8s on Drums doing it's thing with a hard FM Kick Drum.
For Sync-Licensing / Business enquiries please email pianotpot@gmail.com