atone – un our ep (autres directions in music)

i like the short-length issues of the autres directions in music releases. because they briefly state their ideas in a nutshell. even if you dislike the sound, it can never become too tiring...
as we already know from their previous releases they are generally about melodic electronic pop, and although there are a few exceptions, they are still within the concept. this time there is a lot more of the electronica involved, yet with a slight pop sensibility. so in a way, not much different from what they’ve had to offer so far, however on a higher level of course, in the means of production. these five tracks which atone primarily produced between january and february 2003, were intended to be live performances using various machines such as sequencers, synths, drumbox and keyboards, so as to be in direct contact with the structures and melodies on stage. but after the first live act, the conditions and context of the whole performance didn’t fulfill their expectations. hence, after a longer period of ignoring these tracks, they were re-visited and worked upon until they gained an appropriate form. the result are these tracks, quite melodic, jingly, and yet deeper than their previous minimalistic live versions. stephen (the owner of admin) seemed to like them, so he offered to release them under his label. atone, seduced by the ethics and logics of admin in times when the music industry is directed towards the material side of things, approaches this moment to draw his audience to enjoy his music. after 6 releases so far, this label once again succeeds in proving that besides all the marketing involved in art, there are still other ways and forms of distribution and promotion.