electronic
Electronic may refer to:
*Electronics, the science of how to control electric energy in semiconductor
* ''Electronics'' (magazine), a defunct American trade journal
*Electronic storage, the storage of data using an electronic device
*Electronic co ...
musician from
Rochdale
Rochdale ( ) is a large town in Greater Manchester, England, at the foothills of the South Pennines in the dale on the River Roch, northwest of Oldham and northeast of Manchester. It is the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough ...
, England. Most of his work is recorded under the monikers Bola and Jello, released primarily on
Skam Records
Skam Records is an independent electronic music record label based in Manchester, England, founded by Andy Maddocks around 1990. Skam also runs a smaller sub-label called 33.
History
Skam's first 12-inch single is rumored to have never been off ...
. Fitton has also contributed to electronic acts D-Breeze, Brahma and Ooblo, and
Autechre
Autechre () is an English electronic music duo consisting of Rob Brown and Sean Booth, both from Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1987, they are among the best known acts signed to UK electronic label Warp Records, through which all of Au ...
's
Gescom
Gescom is an electronic music project based in the UK with close ties to the electronic duo Autechre.
Stylistically, the music of Gescom is closer to electronic dance music, acid techno, and industrial music than Autechre's, with the excepti ...
project. Fitton was rumoured to have left the music industry in November 2007, but in 2017 he released the album ''D.E.G''.
Biography
Fitton loaned equipment to Autechre in their early days and his first noteworthy involvement with electronic music was as assistant on their debut album ''
Incunabula
In the history of printing, an incunable or incunabulum (plural incunables or incunabula, respectively), is a book, pamphlet, or broadside that was printed in the earliest stages of printing in Europe, up to the year 1500. Incunabula were pro ...
''. His own first electronic music release came in 1994, on
Warp
Warp, warped or warping may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Books and comics
* WaRP Graphics, an alternative comics publisher
* ''Warp'' (First Comics), comic book series published by First Comics based on the play ''Warp!''
* Warp (comics), a ...
's ''
Artificial Intelligence II
''Artificial Intelligence II'' is a compilation album released via Warp on 30 May 1994. It is the eighth and final release in Warp's ''Artificial Intelligence'' series. It peaked at number 16 on the UK Compilation Chart.
Critical reception
John ...
'' compilation. In 1995 he returned with the now more familiar Bola moniker, releasing the ''1'' 12" on
Skam Records
Skam Records is an independent electronic music record label based in Manchester, England, founded by Andy Maddocks around 1990. Skam also runs a smaller sub-label called 33.
History
Skam's first 12-inch single is rumored to have never been off ...
. In 1996, he recorded the album ''Plink'' with Dennis Bourne and Wayne Edwards as Brahma. However, Fitton left the band to pursue his career as Bola. He and Dennis would later collaborate again on the tracks "Mauver" and "Pae Paoe". The debut album as Bola, ''Soup'', came in 1998 and was described as "an impressive synthesis of the machine-beat ambiance (sic) of post-techno with warm, wistful analog soul". A rare set of 3 EPs called ''Shapes'' was released in 2000, pressed at only 300 copies; in September 2006, it was remastered and reissued in greater numbers by Skam, adding three bonus tracks.
On 2 January 2013, Fitton addressed the rumours of his retirement, stating "I figure 5 years of relative inactivity is an adequate musical absence. New music will be produced and released this year."
The latest Bola album, ''D.E.G.'' - short for ''Darrell Earnest is Gone'' - was issued in 2017. There have been occasional live performances, the most recent of which was in December 2012 at Adapter's Vertigo IV in
Eindhoven
Eindhoven () is a city and municipality in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of North Brabant of which it is its largest. With a population of 238,326 on 1 January 2022,
Style
Fitton's blend of electronica, jazz-influenced keyboard parts and ambient soundscapes has been described as "equally informed by the expansive emotions of electronica together with sensible melodies and cinematic atmospheres." "Bola travels in decidedly cinematic realms, crafting music that begs for emotional, tactile responses, ranging from sadness to fear to suspense," opined Tim DiGravina in a review of ''Fyuti'' for
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
. "All of this emotional manipulation is done through extended synth notes, pristine keyboards, and shimmering, otherworldly electronic elements."
While frequently described as "cinematic", Fitton's music has been noted as employing harsher, less accessible elements such as "austere synth textures and almost industrial-grade distortion". "Bola's work needs time to work its magic," states the Electronic Music Guide. "A patient listener will be hugely rewarded".
Discography
Albums
* Bola – ''Soup'', 1998 ( Skam). 12" (SKALP002), CD (SKALD002), 2LP (SKALD002LP). Remastered and reissued with new artwork in 2003.
* Bola – ''Fyuti'', 2001 (Skam). 12" (SKALP007), CD (SKALD007), Picture Disc (SKALPD007).
* Jello – ''Voile'', 2002 ( Peacefrog). 12" (PFG016LP), CD (PFG016CD).
* Bola – ''Gnayse'', 2004 (Skam). 12" (SKALP015), CD (SKALD015), 2LP (SKALD015LP).
* Bola – ''Shapes'', 2006 (Skam). CD (SKALD020). Remastered and re-issued version of the ''Shapes'' EP, plus 3 bonus tracks.
* Bola – ''
Kroungrine
''Kroungrine'' is a studio album by English electronic music artist Bola. It was released in 2007 through Skam Records
Skam Records is an independent electronic music record label based in Manchester, England, founded by Andy Maddocks around ...
'' 2007 (Skam). CD (SKALD022), 2LP (SKALP022).
* Bola – ''D.E.G.'' 2017 (Skam). CD (SKALD034), 2LP (SKALP034).
Lamb
Lamb or The Lamb may refer to:
* A young sheep
* Lamb and mutton, the meat of sheep
Arts and media Film, television, and theatre
* ''The Lamb'' (1915 film), a silent film starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in his screen debut
* ''The Lamb'' (1918 ...
– Softly (Bola remix), 1999 (Fontana). CD (562 372-2)
* Aqualung – Strange and Beautiful (I Put a Spell on You) (Cassan Vae), 2002 (B-Unique Records). CD (bun032cdx)
*
Bass Communion
''Bass Communion'' is a solo project of English musician Steven Wilson, best known for his lead role in the rock band Porcupine Tree. Records released under the name "Bass Communion" are in an ambient or electronic vein - lengthy drone-heavy ...
– Macrovelux Deluxremux, 2003 (Headphone Dust). CD (BCCD5)
*
Martin L. Gore Martin may refer to:
Places
* Martin City (disambiguation)
* Martin County (disambiguation)
* Martin Township (disambiguation)
Antarctica
* Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land
* Port Martin, Adelie Land
* Point Martin, South Orkney Islands
Austra ...