Gescom

Profile:Beginning its activities in the early ‘nineties, the shadowy Gescom collective has released material on Clear, Leaf, Chocolate Industries, SKAM, Warp, Worm Interface, and Source labels.

Incorrectly perceived as simply an Autechre side-project, Gescom in fact exists as a platform for a number of aligned artists to work in various different combinations, whilst remaining-otherwise-anonymous. Personnel in Gescom has varied from release to release and even track track. Releases have included 'Minidisc' in 1998 on the Or label, which was reportedly the first ever Minidisc-only release. This comprised of 45 tracks sliced into 88 portions, and encouraging the listener to loop and shuffle at will.

Working members for the minidisc project were Russell Haswell, Sean Booth and Rob Brown. For its split series incarnation, Rob Brown was joined by SKAM DJ Rob Hall (aka Ad Vanz). Gescom continues to operate and shift its identities.

Early Gescom is probably best described as friends of Booth/Brown with production help by Booth/Brown, aka Autechre. Apart from that, the actual personnel seems to vary from release to release or even from track to track. Quote from the Autechre FAQ: "Actually the whole Gescom crew consists of almost 20 people. Sean Booth calls it an 'umbrella-project'."

But there are also a number of releases by a Gescom which is purely Booth/Brown. If it's on Skam they call themselves Gescom regardless of cooperation, it seems.

Gescom is an abbreviation of "Gestalt Communications".
URLs:http://www.skam.co.uk
Aliases:Dual Purpose
Members:Andy Maddocks, Darrell Fitton, Mike Williamson, Rob Brown (3), Rob Hall, Russell Haswell, Sean Booth
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Releases:
Gescom E.P. (EP) ◄ (2 versions)   Skam 1994
Motor (12")   Source Records (2) 1994
C & D ◄ (2 versions)   Skam 1995
The Sounds Of Machines Our Parents Used ◄ (2 versions)   Clear 1995
Key Nell (Single) ◄ (3 versions)   Skam 1996
Keynell (Remixes) ◄ (2 versions)   Warp Records 1996
Minidisc ◄ (3 versions)   OR 1998
Split Series #2 (12")   FatCat Records 1998
That (12")   Skam 1998
This (12")   Skam 1998
ISS:SA (EP) ◄ (2 versions)   Skam 2003
A1-B1 (12", Ltd)   Skam 2007
A1-D1 (CD, Album)   Skam 2007
C1-D1 (12", Ltd)   Skam 2007
Remixes:
Radio Mix (CD, Mixed, Promo) Nonexistent (Keyed In ... Warp Records 1997
Unauthorized EP ◄ (3 versions) Non-Existant (Keyed In... Chocolate Industries 1998
Rapid Transit (3xLP) Non Existant (Gescom Mix) Chocolate Industries 2000
[r*] Iso | Chall (CD) Itiso161/ae Mego 2000
Phonok (Remixes) (12") Phonok (Vacuum Party Mix) Skam 2001
Marcia Blaine School For Girls - School Disco Volume 1 (CDr) Non-Existant (Keyed In... Metal-On-Metal 2002
The Cornerstone Player 030 (CD, Comp, Promo + CD, Comp, Mixed, Promo, Enh) Nonexistent - Keyed In... Cornerstone Promotion 2002
Eddy Fresh (EP, Single) ◄ (4 versions) Eddy Fresh (Gescom Rem... Lex Records ... 2007
Gamut (File, MP3, Mixed, 192) Non-Existant (Keyed In... Not On Label (The Incredible Superstring Band) 2008
Tamber - Eliminating Conformity (CDr) Non Existent Etihad Records  
Production:
OR MD comp. (CD, Album, Comp) PN-1.3.15, YXJ440M OR 2003
Co-production:
Ilanga ◄ (2 versions)   Warp Records 1996
Appears On:
The Future Sound Of Jazz Vol. 3 (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Keynel 1 Compost Records 1996
Invisible Soundtracks Macro 1 (CD, Album, Dig) Bronchusix Leaf 1997
The Future Sound Of Jazz 2 (2xCD, Comp) Keynell 1 Instinct Records 1997
DJ-Kicks (CD, Comp, Mixed) Puzl Studio !K7, Rough Trade Germany 1998
Rapid Transit (CD, Comp) Non Existant (Gescom Mix) Chocolate Industries 2000
All Tomorrow's Parties 3.0 (Comp, Album) ◄ (2 versions) Mag (Ae Remix) ATP Recordings 2003
Tracks Appear On:
Invisible Soundtracks Volume 1 (12") Bronchusix Leaf 1995
Journeys By DJ: Coldcut - 70 Minutes Of Madness (Comp) ◄ (3 versions) Mag Music Unites ... 1995
Mesmer Variations (2xCD, Comp) Tony LeMesmer Ash International 1995
Alt.Frequencies (CD, Comp) Skfl2 Worm Interface 1996
It's All Becoming... (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Go Sheep Clear 1996
Journeys By DJ Marathon (Comp) ◄ (3 versions) Mag Journeys By DJ ... 1996
Mind The Gap Volume 11 (CD) Skfl2 Gonzo Circus 1996
The Future Sound Of Jazz Vol. 3 (Comp) ◄ (3 versions) Keynel 1 Compost Records 1996
0161 (CD, Comp) Two Of, Peel Xyzdub Skam, V/Vm Test Records, Public (2) 1997
Invisible Soundtracks Macro 1 (CD, Album, Dig) Bronchusix Leaf 1997
Radio Mix (CD, Mixed, Promo) Mag 3.1426 (Rmxd By Ae... Warp Records 1997
Skampler ◄ (2 versions) Mag (Ae Remix), Keynel... Skam ... 1997
The Future Sound Of Jazz 2 (2xCD, Comp) Keynell 1 Instinct Records 1997
Alternative Frequencies 3 (CD) Leritue (Gibber Mix) Worm Interface 1998
Clear Presents Twisted Love Songs (CD) Go Sheep P-Vine Records 1998
DJ-Kicks (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Puzl Studio !K7 ... 1998
MASK 400 (12", Ltd) Untitled Skam 1998
MASK 500 (12", Ltd) Boogie Down Bronx Skam 1999
Split Series 1 - 8 (CD) Viral FatCat Records 1999
The State Of E:Motion Vol. 7 ◄ (2 versions) Viral E:Motion 1999
Absolute Zero (CD) Around Absolute Zero Charrm 2000
Prix Ars Electronica CyberArts 2000 (2xCD) Is We Ars Electronica Center 2000
Rough Trade Shops - 25 Years (4xCD) Sciew Spoc Mute Records Ltd. 2001
Fals.ch 02 (CD, Mini) 9Û5©03^.¶·5K70¸12... Falsch 2002
Marcia Blaine School For Girls - School Disco Volume 1 (CDr) Puzl Metal-On-Metal 2002
The Cornerstone Player 030 (CD, Comp, Promo + CD, Comp, Mixed, Promo, Enh) Keynell, Keynell (Aute... Cornerstone Promotion 2002
All Tomorrow's Parties 3.0 (Comp, Album) ◄ (2 versions) Mag (Ae Remix) ATP Recordings 2003
OR MD comp. (CD, Album, Comp) PN-1.3.15, YXJ440M OR 2003
From The Volts (LP) Skfl2 Worm Interface 2004
Mix#2 (File, MP3) Boogie Down Bronx Remix Autres Directions In Music 2007
Numbers. #007 - 60 Minutes Of Numbers Episode #03 / Get Off The Pipe, Get On The Floor (File, MP3, 192) Keynell (Autechre Remix) Numbers. 2007
Mix#4 (File, MP3) Slow Acid Autres Directions In Music 2008
So Far (CD, Smplr) Mag Ae (Remix) Silent  
Unofficial Releases:
Hekla's Selection (CDr) Keynell 2 Reckankreuzungsklankewerkzeuge 1998
Autechre (2) (CD-ROM) Dan One, Five, Cicada,... Домашняя Коллекция 2001
User Reviews:
moire, Apr 30, 2004

The people behind Gescom continue to be a mystery, with the exceptions of Gescom EPs 1 and 2, where the "conspirator" names are listed. I doubt they want us to know, and I doubt they want us to care, but thats not going to stop me from wondering. Im hesitant to believe that *everything* post-Gescom EPs 1 and 2 is Booth/Brown. Im not so sure theyre behind ISS:SA, at least not fully... just doesnt sound it to me.

Anyway, regardless, theres been a lot of good stuff released under Gescom, especially Keynell and the Keynell remixes (essential). Ive heard people call Gescom Autechres "electro" outfit, which isnt true at all. All the Gescom releases are pretty unique; people who say theyre electro probably just heard Sound of Machines, which is very electro. The rest isnt.

And in response to the above post: my guess is that the track you heard is "megamix," the last track off the ISS:SA CD (exclusive to the CD, not on vinyl). Maybe not, though...

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