Brian Dougans
Brian Robert Dougans (born 1968) is a British musician, and a member of the British electronic duo, the Future Sound of London (FSOL).
Brian Dougans | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Brian Robert Dougans[1] |
| Born | 1968 (age 54–55) Glasgow, Scotland |
| Genres | Electronic, IDM, trip hop, big beat, ambient |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, producer |
| Instrument(s) | Keyboards, sampler, synthesizer, drums, laptop, computer, music technology |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Labels | Jumpin' & Pumpin', Virgin, Rephlex |
| Website | futuresoundoflondon |
He is the more technical member of FSOL, doing most of the programming, circuit bending et cetera and creating electronic instruments at his home studio in Glastonbury, Somerset. He is currently head of FSOLdigital (FSOL's record label) and co designer of the FSOL:Digitana SX-1 Synthesiser.
Dougans' first releases were as "Humanoid", releasing the acid house single "Stakker Humanoid", which reached number 17 in the UK Singles Chart in 1988, and also charted in 1992 and 2001. "Stakker Humanoid" was No.1 for five weeks in the UK Dance Chart (December 1988) and has been cited as a major influence on early Aphex Twin releases. Dougans music as Humanoid is also part of the MOMA NY collection via Stakker Eurotechno. Dougans has always been the quiet, technical workhorse of FSOL whilst Garry Cobain brings in his melody and softness to balance Dougans' technical wizardry.
Music
Humanoid
Brian Dougans first releases were as "Humanoid", releasing the acid house single "Stakker Humanoid". The track was a hit not just at influential clubs like Shoom in London, but was championed by mainstream stalwarts like Radio DJ Bruno Brookes and Kylie and Jason producer Pete Waterman. After the single reached No. 17 in the UK Singles Chart in November 1988, leading to Dougans' appearance on Top of the Pops on 1 December 1988.[2] Subsequent re-issues also charted in 1992 and 2001.
Stakker Humanoid was No.1 for five weeks in the UK Dance Chart (December 1988) and has been cited as a major influence on early Aphex Twin releases. Dougans music as Humanoid is also part of the MOMA NY collection via Stakker Eurotechno.
Stakker was also used as the name of the collaboration between Dougans and video artists Colin Scott and Mark McLean. Eurotechno, the soundtrack to a visual installation by the group, was originally released in 1989.
Future Sound of London
Dougans met Garry Cobain in 1985 when he was at Salford College of Technology in Manchester studying Music Recording Technology. After Dougans left college he set up his own studio in London where Cobain joined him and they began to release a plethora of singles under various aliases, some of which would end up on their first compilation album (as FSOL) Earthbeat in 1992.
Whereas the sound of Amorphous Androgynous is Cobain's vehicle, FSOL's more "mechanical" sound is Dougan's.[3][4]
Synthesizers
Dougans has co-designed two synthesizers with English electronics company Digitana; the SX-1 analogue synthesizer and the Halia (stand alone digital sampler synth). The SX-1 has been received with critical acclaim and has been used in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Innocents and One Strange Rock.[5]
Guinness World Records
Dougans received (along with his musical partner Cobain) three retrospective awards from the Guinness World Records.
- Most notably, the first internet music download on 22 June 1994, distributed via the New York based internet bulletin board Sonicnet.[6]
- The first band to tour the world without leaving their studio
- The first band to tour the world down telephone wires
Discography
All as Humanoid unless indicated (please see also The Future Sound of London).
Albums
| Release Date | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
27 January 2003 | Eurotechno | Rephlex CAT129CD | An early project, released on Aphex Twin's label Rephlex, a soundtrack of sorts to a visual installation artist Mark McLean both of which was a major inspiration to the Rephlex collective and as such was re-released on the label in 2003. |
19 November 2007 | Your Body Sub Atomic | FSOLDigital.com Digital download | 20th anniversary remix album of the Stakker Humanoid release and other tracks by Brian Dougans; the remixes are by both new and established artist's and DJ's, download also included an Adobe Flash "booklet" and high quality video of the "Feadz 2007 Mix". |
19 March 2007 | 4 Forests | FSOLDigital.com Digital download | As Part-Sub-Merged, an experimental project released on FSOL's website; a dark soundtrack to a short film by him under the same alias. |
| 6 July 2023 | Sweet Acid Sound | CD TOT 88 | Released initially on bandcamp. |
Compilation albums
| Release Date | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1989 | Global | Westside Records CDHUM 1989 | Early compilation of the singles he released in 88/89. |
10 February 2003 | Sessions 84-88 | Rephlex CAT130CD | An experimental compilation full of acid house tracks and a remix of Stakker Humanoid. |
1 March 2007 | Zeebox 1984-1987 Vol. 1 | FSOLDigital.com Digital download | As Zeebox; the first part of a digital download compilation set of Zeebox albums, experiments from his time in Glasgow and Manchester. |
4 March 2007 | Zeebox 1984-1987 Vol. 2 | FSOLDigital.com Digital download | As Zeebox; the second part of a digital download compilation set of Zeebox albums, experiments from his time in Glasgow and Manchester. |
EPs
| Release Date | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1992 | Braindamage | Bit Bites Brain BIT 9215-12 | A release on a small German indie label featuring b-sides by another artist called Phase IV. |
Singles
| Release Date | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1988 | "Stakker Humanoid" | Westside Records WSRT 12 | As Humanoid, first single, hit No. 17 in the UK singles chart, No. 1 in the UK dance chart for five weeks |
1989 | "Slam" | Westside Records CDWSR14 | As Humanoid, featured on "Global" compilation. |
1989 | "The Deep" | Westside Records HUMT2 | As Humanoid, featured on "Global" compilation. |
1989 | "Tonight" | Westside Records HUMT1 | As Humanoid, featured on "Global" compilation. |
1989 | "Crystals (Back Together)" | Chicago Trax PROMO HUMT3 | As Humanoid, featured on "Global" compilation. |
1989 | "R.A.V.E" | Dangerous M-4001 | As Humanoid, released on the obscure American Dangerous Records. |
See also
References
- "AN END OF SORTS". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- Stuart Aitken (11 November 2013). "Stakker Humanoid: how the Future Sound of London won hearts and minds". guardian.co.uk.
- The Future Sound Of London Interview Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Barcodezine.com. Retrieved on 2017-06-15.
- Future Sound of London : Music News Feature. Clash Music (2009-10-17). Retrieved on 2017-06-15.
- "Future Sound of London - FSOL - post". facebook.com. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- "First internet music download". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2 March 2022.