Machine Code is a collaborative effort between two extremely powerful forces of the DnB world: Dean Rodell and Current Value. By pushing their gear to the limits, they're also pushing the boundaries of genre... DnB, Techno, Dubstep, 1/4 step, whatever you want to call it, the soundscapes built by these two monsters of tech is something that must be heard to be understood. We caught up with them to get the details...

'Machine Code' is defined as a system of instructions and data executed directly by a CPU, what directives are you putting out there?
Directive: To keep pushing our machines to the limits of what they can do, and ourselves, in the way we approach each studio-tool, so that the processing of sound from each is always optimized to its full extent. This process holds true to our style of working; the more defined and refined the original source material is, we find that less is needed within the track structure itself without compromising on the density and quality of the output.

It's clear from each tune you've released that genre borders are hardly guidelines for you, so how do your tracks usually start in the studio, and how do you differentiate your solo productions from those of the partnership?
Making tunes just happens – they're often not even planned, it's a very instinctive, autonomous process. It's usually through the creation of sounds that tunes start to present themselves. The interaction between our individual approaches to making music forms a natural symbiosis, these collaborative effects are vital to create Machine Code projects, especially in keeping the feel and sound of the output unique from our solo stuff.

Part of the whole Machine Code project was not to be one thing or another, just Machine Code. Whether 'that sound' needs to fit within a particular genre is for others to decide.

"Abusing" gear to create giant and uncompromisingly dark beats has become a staple of the Machine Code name, but what does that entail, how much time goes into sound manipulation for your tracks?      
We create a lot of our sound design from scratch using the Nord Modular G2, the Nord Wave and various other modular based soft-synths. That often includes all the drums and percussion as well. It's not so much a question of manipulating the sound, but more a question of creation and optimization.

With your album project set for release in the coming months, what kind of mind-bending music have you got in store? Who do you think it will appeal to most?
The album Environments on Subtrakt is a collection of 'machinestep' and '1/4 step' – a more mechanical sounding dubstep, if you like. This vibe has allowed us to create more pressure and depth around the beats, especially with the 1/4 step tracks that really hammer down in all the new-found space.

Tracks like Machine Freak and In The Shell will definitely appeal to most of the techno/industrial DnB heads, but as the title of the album suggests there are plenty of varied soundscapes and ideas that have morphed many genres. In doing so, we've helped create new styles like 1/4 step.

The Filthcast is a great place to showcase your forthcoming tracks, so how has your relationship with Barcode and other labels helped progress your sound? Do you write music with specific labels/outlets in mind?
It's always good to have the support from great labels like Barcode that keep pushing our sound along with many others from the harder side of dnb/techno. We are often asked to write music for certain labels but we'll never compromise on the Machine Code sound. Most outputs that we favour already seem to fit into the labels' ideals anyway.

Individually you've both worked with some of the most prolific names in electronic music, so who else will you be working with this year? Will Machine Code be taking on remixes and collaboration projects?
The ones to come out in the near future are Broken Note Vs Machine Code to follow the album on Subtrakt, a Cooh & Limewax VS for Subsistenz, along with a track featuring MC Coppa coming out on Rocstar pretty soon. We will also be producing the new Senser single: End Of The World Show which will have two Machine Code remixes and an Underhill remix that we are both involved with as well. There will be some remix work done from our new release Second Nature due out on Combat very soon – info on that will be updated on our pages shortly!

What is the most fun about all this? What is it that keeps you going back for more and progressing your music?
Fun and progression go hand in hand. The more progression there is, the more fun we get out of it, which naturally keeps us going back for more. To us, making music is a constant evolution and progression automatically opening up new scopes for audio design.

What's next? Are there plans for a live performance where you guys light synths on fire and put amplifiers in hydraulic presses, or what?
I think we have too much respect for our synths to do that and I'm not sure Nord would be too happy, but we will probably change / extend our performing gear every now and then, to really reflect what we're processing in the studio. Maybe setting someone else's gear alight is a better option! Nice one to the UK crew that follow us about Europe, and Nord for their support and a sound!!

Words: Ty 'Dubcomm' Metford

 

Download Filthcast 022 featuring Machine Code

Track List

1. Machine Code - Circadian (Subtrakt)
2. Current Value - Target (Subviolenz)
3. Machine Code - Mechanisms (Subsistenz)
4. Machine Code - In The Shell (Current Value Rework)
5. Current Value - ClockWerk (Subsistenz)
6. Replicator - Kemikal (Dean Rodell Remix)
7. Current Value - Warship (Barcode Recordings)
8. Machine Code - Solitude (Subsistenz)
9. Machine Code - Untitled
10. Machine Code - Silicon Base (Prspct Recordings)
11. Current Value - Alpha State (Subsistenz)
12. CV vs Cooh - Graden (Position Chrome)
13. Current Value - Higher VIP (Subsistenz)
14. Current Value - Bruja (Barcode Recordings)
15. Current Value - End Of The Tunnel (Freak Recordings)
16. Current Value - Pace (Subsistenz)

• Machine Code
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• Dean Rodell
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• Current Value
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• Barcode Recordings

Related Links:

• Free Track: Current Value
• Current Value & Donny Interview
• Guest Mix: Cooh
• Counterstrike Update
• D-Code & Nerm Interview

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