RACECAR: With a name like Nature Program it would be expected that you would gather inspiration from nature. What elements of nature? A particular creature or landscape?
Nature Program: My biggest inspiration is weather, clouds especially and I have a tremendous respect for all animals, even humans at times.

R: Are you currently playing live? What does your live set-up consist of? Is it pre-planned before a gig or do you improvise on the fly?
NP: I haven't played live in quite a while, but when I do play out my set-up is a drum machine, analog synth, sampler, and laptop sending midi. It's largely preplanned but I like to leave room for having some fun sending gear through different effects and playing synth here and there. I think sound quality is the most important factor in live electronic music so for me giving the audience a direct output from a sound source which hasn't been prerecorded is a must. Midi control is great fun when your hands can be manipulating timbers and effects instead of notes and timing.

R: You also work with visual media, does this inspire any of your work sonically? Do you find working with sound and vision similar?
NP: It seems not to influence my audio work as much as I would like to think it does. When I start writing music my brain does a complete shift away from anything visual. I've had to stop working on a laptop because I find it really distracting. However I will say that a well designed instrument interface is incredibly important to me, the simpler the better. I had to take apart my modular synth and rebuild it in a new format because it wasn't minimal enough. I got rid of all the markings and work by color. Working with visual media seems to be much more a yes and no process for me while working with sound is incredibly multi layered and there is never a clear answer waiting for you. It's a constant struggle to allow yourself to let go of what you think is right for a song and let things go more to chance. That's where sound design and song writing really get exciting. Chance is a huge part of music and sound. Plus, I finally came to realize that production quality is the loudest instrument in any recording. Those elements seem to draw the most emotion out of me when listening to other artists work.

R: What acts will you be watching this year? Labels?
NP: I'd have to say Autechre because I'm waiting for them to come back to the states and play more live sets in the dark. Their last two albums were ace as they say.

I haven't been zoning in on labels lately since I tend to like random styles from different places. I do appreciate labels that aren't afraid to branch out. I've been really into re-listening to 90's electronic music and artists with mind blowing production techniques like Boards of Canada. They are quite past due on a new album. I would like them to come out with a quad-album to make up for lost time.

R: How would you describe your sound?
NP: Minimalist Maximus

R: Northern California or New York City?
NP: San York hands down.

R: Major or Minor Key?
NP: Major but in a minor way. Finding ways to combine them at the same time is fun.

Pick up Nature Program's latest release If More Space Is Needed out now on iTunes and other fine digital retailers.

Nature Program is back with a new EP entitled If More Space Is Needed. It will be available digitally on September 6, 2011. We are offering the first track Aqueduct & Conduit for free both here and on SoundCloud. You can also stream the rest of the EP. Consider yourself warned: This is a slow burner!

Nature Program – If More Space Is Needed by \\ RACECAR

A "friend of the family", so to speak, has released his debut album. Echoes Alike is the solo project of now Brooklyn based multi-instrumentalist Timothy Shrider. Shrider hails from Kentucky and is known for his drumming prowess in the legendary Drum and Bass outfit entitled Twilight Sleep which also included Love Between Equals and KFrey amongst others. Echoes Alike is his first proper solo-project. The Moon Monster EP is definitely a record that you want to get your hands on, beautiful and experimental all in the same measure.

For a sampling, watch the video for "Bi-Coastal" above.

We are pleased to present a new project of Evan Sharfe (known to some as Evan Scott) to the fold. Comprised of Sharfe and Chase Anderson (sometimes known as 8 Bit Fit), Skeleton Hands, has released their first EP entitled Crystalline Dreams on Bandcamp. Skeleton Hands is blending the already hazy lines of New Wave and Classic-Era Post-Punk. Head on over and pick up their virgin effort for free and say hello.

Last June we met a young man named Sutja Gutiérrez from Castellón de la Plana who introduced us to his newest vision, The Fruhstucks. At that time it was a one-man band but since he has initiated Miguel Cámara (Miguel Boxerinlove) on guitar. As the project morphed so did the sound. What finally emerged was a lo-fi, dream pop band that will make your ears fall in love, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

As we came to know The Fruhstucks better we realized they were destined for vinyl. So without further adieu, we are pleased to present, finally, The Fruhstucks first record to you on March 15th, 2011. Sorry, We Are The Fruhstucks is a limited edition 7 inch pressed in Purple Tie-Dye available to 248 lucky lovers.



The best part? We have decided that we shouldn't make you wait! We are opening up the record for pre-release sale on our website and Bandcamp. Get those orders in quick and we'll get them out to you well before the actual release date. To boot, The Fruhstucks have decided to release the digital only bonus track, "My Punk Is Alive (Inside)" for free.

The Fruhstucks "My Punk Is Alive (Inside)" (click to download)