Robohands - Shapes (Blue Vinyl)

Shapes' is inspired by 1970s library music and their legendary composers
including Piero Umiliani, David Axelrod, Brian Bennett and co. The album builds
on these influences and incorporates modern motifs, contemporary jazz/hip hop
drumming styles with a nod to 1990s Mo Wax artists such as DJ Shadow. The
theme for the record is future/nostalgia, mixing vintage & modern instruments
and production techniques.

Much of 'Shapes' was recorded with JB Pilon at Buffalo Studios in Limehouse,
London. Due to the COVID restrictions that changed everything in 2020, the
remaining parts were recorded in Andy's flat using a collection of old mixing
desk preamps and instruments.

For the heads – 'Shapes' features an array of vintage snares, including a 1960's
Ludwig Pioneer and a mono, overhead ribbon mic on the drum kit provided
extra old school points! The kick drum was re-amped through a huge vintage bass
amplifier on a couple of tracks to give it some real character: "My favourite
guitar sound achieved on this LP project is a Sontronics Sigma ribbon microphone
in front of a WEM Dominator amp, which you can hear on the track 'Odysea'. The
bass sound for all the tracks is a 1973 Fender Precision into an old Altec valve
preamp, the one used on most Motown recordings."