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Monolake

Real Name:Torsten Pröfrock & Robert Henke
Profile:Monolake is an open project dedicated to computer generated music, founded in 1995 by Robert Henke and Gerhard Behles. We were impressed and influenced by Minimal Techno music and Drum&Bass and at the same time discovered the sonic richness and sophistication of academic computer music. These poles became the source and inspiration for our own creations.

Our first releases on the highly acclaimed Berlin Techno label Chain Reaction, an offspring of Basic Channel, brought us some public attention. Due to our involvement with the Elektronische Studio der Technischen Universitat Berlin we also had the chance to do comissioned works for occations like "50 years of Music Concrete" and numerous other projects. The first Album from 1997, titled Hongkong, combined processed environmental sounds captured during the International Computer Music Conferernce 1996 in Hong Kong with synthesized timbres.

It became the blueprint for a specific Monolake style which is often permutating complex rhythmical structures interacting with rich textural elements, providing depth and color.

The second album, Interstate, released 1999 became the first Monolake release on Robert Henkes own label, Imbalance Computer Music . While the music on 'Hongkong' was still very much influenced by Minimal Techno and Dub, 'Interstate' was significantly more complex and more orientated towards micro-editing of sonic particles. This detailed manipulation of sound was possible due to self written software, realised in Max/MSP, which allowed us to create textures and rhythmical gestures impossible to achive elsewise.

'Gobi. The desert', a 34 minute epic track from 1999 was completly done in our own software, mostly Max/MSP but also with the beta version of Native Instruments Reaktor, since Gerhard Behles wrote the sampling and re-synthesis part of it. A bit later he started his own software company, Ableton, which I joined. The third album, Gravity, released 2000, brought the focus back towards dance music and the dark, noisy and atmospheric pieces exposed there made Monolake an often requested live performer in clubs. Cinemascope, 2002, stood in retrospective for a time of insecurity, both personal and in a general musical context. It contains a variety of great pieces, but lacks the coherence of the earlier works.

After 2000, everyone involved in electronic club music seemed to search for new ways of expression. Techno seemed to be dead and technology had nothing new to offer to compensation for the lack of inspiration. Cinemascope has been realised in a period of significant changes of production technique. A typical Monolake track created by Gerhard Behles and Robert Henke was the result of setting up a system of software and hardware which allowed us to use the studio as a real time instrument and "perform" with it. The results were endless recording sessions, later edited into pieces. This kind of workflow did not fit anymore when working alone. The production process and environment had to be re-thought.

While producing Cinemascope the studio changed every day, and every setup seemed to be inappropriate. At the end I took everything apart, and started to work at home with a laptop. The studio of the future: no studio?!

Momentum came out in 2003 and has been done in my appartment, mostly within the software Ableton Live, to which we added more and more features with in every version. It became the hub and center of my studio. Momentum was the first Monolake album I completely realised alone. The counterpart to Momentum was Signal to Noise [2004], an ambitious, serious work of sound art which included the piece Studies for Thunder, from which I later derived a multi channel performance piece.

At the same time, Monolake became again a more collaborative project, since Torsten 'T++' Proefrock, who also worked with me on some parts of Cinemascope joined the team. We started working on music which feels to us like the most exciting re-invention of the wheel since the beginning of the Monolake project. While providing the expected timeless flow of rhythm and sound, the underlying rhythmical structure and the sound design itself is very different. The result of our collaborative effort is Polygon_Cities, released in summer 2005.

From summer 2005 till the end of 2006, the development of the Monodeck II controller and writing music for future Monolake live performances took most resources. Also the Atlantic Waves performance series saw ongoing refinement of the sofware and remarkable performances at Tate Modern, London and Centre Pompidou, Paris.

2007 was dedicated to more art releated projects, like the Cyclone sound installation, the refinement of the Layering Buddha material into a mindblowing multichannel live performance, and more work on the Monolake liveset. Layering Buddha got recoginzed by the Prix Ars Electronica, Depeche Mode got a remix from us, and there were lots of concerts, including two mad improvisation sessions with Austrian composer Wolfgang Mitterer and video artist Lillevan. For the Monolake website we came up with the Free Track of the Month and the Atom project started.
URLs:http://www.monolake.de/
http://www.myspace.com/monolakemusic
Members:Gerhard Behles, Robert Henke, Torsten Pröfrock
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Releases:
Cyan ◄ (2 versions)   Chain Reaction 1996
Magenta ◄ (3 versions)   Chain Reaction 1996
Hongkong (Album) ◄ (2 versions)   Chain Reaction ... 1997
Lantau / Macao ◄ (2 versions)   Chain Reaction 1997
Occam / Arte (12")   DIN 1997
Fragile / Static ◄ (3 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 1999
Gobi. The Desert EP (CD, EP)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 1999
Interstate (CD, Album)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 1999
Tangent ◄ (2 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 1999
Ice. Stratosphere ◄ (2 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2000
Bicom / Remoteable / Cut ◄ (3 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2001
Cinemascope (Album) ◄ (2 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2001
Full Swing Edits 1 (10")   Orthlorng Musork 2001
Gravity (CD, Album)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2001
Ionized Ping Frost ◄ (3 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2001
Polaroid ◄ (2 versions)   DIN 2001
Cern White_II ◄ (3 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2003
Linear Atomium Reminiscence ◄ (2 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2003
Momentum (Album) ◄ (2 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2003
Axis Carbon ◄ (3 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2005
Digitalis Plumbicon ◄ (2 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2005
Invisible Force ◄ (2 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2005
Plumbicon Versions I ◄ (2 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2005
Polygon_Cities (CD, Album)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2005
Alaska Melting ◄ (3 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2006
Alaska Remixes ◄ (2 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2006
Magenta I (File, MP3)   Not On Label (Monolake Self-released) 2006
Plumbicon Versions (CD, EP, Dig)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2006
Plumbicon Versions II ◄ (2 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2006
Random Brown EP (12", EP)   Cynosure 2006
Indigo Uncut (File, MP3, 192)   Not On Label (Monolake Self-released) 2007
Interstate (CD, Album, RM)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2007
Live At Dr. Kern (2xFile, MP3, 192)   Not On Label (Monolake Self-released) 2007
Motion Blur (File, MP3, 192)   Not On Label (Monolake Self-released) 2007
Plumbicon_v.271205_01 (File, MP3)   Not On Label (Monolake Self-released) 2007
Tangent II (Extended Version) / Darkest Star (Monolake Rmx II) (2xFile, MP3, 320)   Not On Label (Monolake Self-released) 2007
Cern-LHC (File, MP3, 320)   Not On Label (Monolake Self-released) 2008
Decay (File, MP3, 320)   Not On Label (Monolake Self-released) 2008
Index I - Remastered (File, MP3, 160)   Not On Label (Monolake Self-released) 2008
Index II - Remastered (File, MP3, 160)   Not On Label (Monolake Self-released) 2008
Live Gijon 2008 (File, MP3, 160)   Not On Label (Monolake Self-released) 2008
Wave2dot3 (File, MP3, 320)   Not On Label (Monolake Self-released) 2008
Atlas ◄ (3 versions)   Monolake / Imbalance Computer Music 2009
Der 517. Tag Der Mission (File, MP3, 320)   Not On Label (Monolake Self-released) 2009
Yetlag (File, MP3, 320)   Not On Label (Monolake Self-released) 2009
Remixes:
8, 8.5, 9 • Remixes (CD) Modulo 8.5 By Monolake FatCat Records 1999
Mixt (CD) Vortak2 (Monolake Remix) Senton Recordings 2002
Frequencies Will Move Together (2xCD) For Your Seventh Birth... Inertia Recordings 2003
Duplex (Remixes) (12") Steinholz (Monolake Re... Shitkatapult 2004
Hitek By Meteosound (CD) Steinholz (Monolake Re... Meteosound 2004
Suffer Well (7", Ltd, Pic, Num) The Darkest Star (Mono... Mute Records Ltd. 2006
The Complete Depeche Mode (12xFile, AAC, Album, RM + 10xFile, AAC, Album, RM ) The Darkest Star (Mono... Mute Records Ltd. 2006
Whose Bad Hands Are These? Part II ◄ (2 versions) Bad Hands (Monolake Re... Dynamic Tension Records 2007
Things To Be Frickled (Album, Comp) ◄ (3 versions) Steinholz (Monolake Rmx) Shitkatapult ... 2008
Appears On:
Remixes (12") Modulo 8.5 FatCat Records 1998
Xart Hybrid (Offenbar: Bar Interessant) (CD) Modulo 8.5 Xart Consult 1999
Last Light - Remixes Volume One (12") Low Order (Monolake Re... Leaf 2000
Crusty Effluvia (12") Crusty Effluvia (Monol... K2 O Records 2002
Bass Communion (Reconstructions And Recycling) (CD) The Battle Of Tetris Headphone Dust 2003
Berlin Digital - A Guide Through The Electronic Music Scene (DVD, PAL, NTSC) Monolake Lieblingslied Records 2004
A Bugged Out Mix By Miss Kittin (2xCD, Mixed, Comp) Invisible Resist Music 2006
Tracks Appear On:
... Compiled (CD, Comp) Cyan II Chain Reaction 1998
Techno Nations Volume 7 (CD, Comp) Occam Kickin Records 1998
The State Of E:Motion Vol. 6 ◄ (2 versions) Index E:Motion 1998
The State Of E:Motion Vol. 7 ◄ (2 versions) Tangent II E:Motion 1999
Absolute Zero (CD) Frost Charrm 2000
ID/CD (CD) Mille Tableaux · The ... ON/OFF 2000
Selections (CD, Mixed, Comp) Stratosphere Northcott 2000
Selections (3xLP) Stratosphere Northcott 2000
The State Of E:Motion Vol. 8 ◄ (2 versions) Ice E:Motion ... 2000
id/lp (LP) Mille Tableaux · The ... ON/OFF 2000
Full Swing Edits (CD) Postcard (Edit) Orthlorng Musork 2001
Mgrs Rmxs (2xLP, Ltd + CD) Alpenrausch Not On Label 2001
Mind The Gap Volume 35 (CD) Static Gonzo Circus 2001
The State Of E:Motion Vol. 9 ◄ (2 versions) Television Tower E:Motion ... 2001
Trax Sampler 038 (CD, Smplr, Car) Frost Trax Sampler 2001
Vertical Forms ◄ (2 versions) Rain Vertical Form 2001
Vinyl Surgery - Frequenz Berater (2xCD, Comp) Ice d.Drum 2001
Fashion Week 1 (2xCD) Static George V Records, Wagram 2002
Groovetechnology v1.3 ◄ (2 versions) Fragile Studio !K7 2002
Highest Common Denominator (CDr) Dversion Piehead Records 2002
Live Sets At Ego 1998-2000 (2xCD) Pluto Ego Recordings 2002
Technodubfest (CD, Promo) Bicom Ministry (Magazine) 2002
opensource.code (CD, Comp) White II Source Records (2) 2002
Afterhours #18: A Child Will Imitate His Parents (Summer 2003) (3xCD) Ping After Hours, After Hours, After Hours 2003
Audiolab (2xCD) Idle_Time Lucky Kitchen 2003
Deep:Inside Vol. Two (CD) Televison Tower E:Motion 2003
Frequencies [Hz] (CD, Comp, Ltd) Binary Raster-Noton 2003
Marke B 03 (CD) Oceans Of Noise Wire Magazine 2003
Abstractions Of Sound (Cass, Mixed) Cern Clockwise Recordings (Japan) 2004
Dis_Patched (2xCD) Arte rx:tx 2005
Mutek 05 (2xCD) CCTV Mutek_Rec 2005
Mutek.Mx (CD) Invisible Imeca Music 2005
Trax Sampler 086 (CD, Smplr, Car) Invisible Trax Sampler 2005
We Love It Minimal (CD, Comp, Mixed) Invisible, Axis, Force XMAG 2005
A Bugged Out Mix By Miss Kittin (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Invisible Resist Music ... 2006
Blue Lagoon Soundtrack (CD) Bicom Sena 2006
Future Sound Theory (CD, Comp, Mixed, Dig) Digitalis Celestial Dragon Records 2006
German Techno Volume 2 (2xCD, Comp) Plumbicon (Sleeparchiv... Translunar Ltd. 2006
Get Lost (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Plumbicon Crosstown Rebels 2006
Honkytonks: The Last Dance (2xCD, Comp, Mixed) Plumbicon (Sleeparchiv... EQ Recordings 2006
Kazantip History: Bar Mousson / Закаты Мартина Ландерса (CD, Mixed) Ping, Television Tower World Club Music 2006
Micromix 89 (File, MP3, 160) Melting Micromix 2006
Mind The Gap Volume 63 (CD, Comp) Plumbicon (Sleeparchiv... Gonzo Circus 2006
Sutemos Live EP (File, MP3) Bicom Sutemos 2006
The Loft Club Vol. 4 (CD, Comp, Mixed) Plumbicon (Sleeparchiv... Sinnamon Records 2006
Deepmix (File, MP3, 192) Bicom Deepindub.org 2007
Die Reise Zum Mittelpunkt (File, MP3, Mixed, 192) Occam Aeronautique 2007
Numbers. #007 - 60 Minutes Of Numbers Episode #03 / Get Off The Pipe, Get On The Floor (File, MP3, 192) Alaska (Substance Mix 2) Numbers. 2007
Sundays Deelight (CD, Album, Enh + CD, Comp, Mixed, Enh) Alaska Goa Madrid 2007
The Other Side - Berlin ◄ (2 versions) Pipeline Resist Music ... 2007
This Is For You Shits (CD, Ltd) Invisible, Linear Warp Records 2007
Visionaire No. 53: Sound (5x12", Pic, Comp + 2xCD, Comp + Box, Ltd + , Aus) Excentric 06 V1 Visionaire Publishing 2007
The Big Freeze Vol. 3 (CD, Comp, Mixed) Plumbicon Epilogue Platipus 2008
Tribute To Netlabels II ( Part Four Chill Out Mix ) (File, MP3, P/Mixed, 320) Bicom Deepindub.org 2009
Non Verbal Communication (CD, Promo) Stratosphere Hedonist Production (2)  
Unofficial Releases:
Hekla's Selection (CDr) Arte Reckankreuzungsklankewerkzeuge 1998
Elektion Propaganda (CD, Mixed) Tetris Track Rabbit Suppers 2004
Fragment : Hous' (CDr, Mixed) Occam Slow To Speak 2006
Fragment 10:20 Love Lost (CDr, Ltd, Mixed) Occam Slow To Speak 2008
Fragment 11:9 Chemicals/War:$ (CDr, Ltd, Mixed) Excentric Slow To Speak 2008
Fragment 3:1 Hope/Black Out (CDr, Ltd, Mixed) Reminscence Slow To Speak 2008
Fragment 5:1 Autumn.Earth/Love Past (CDr, Ltd, Mixed) Tangent I Slow To Speak 2008
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