3by3

Oyaarss moves to Ad Noiseam.....

2012-01-28T12:55:00.000Z

Some sad news for 3by3 this week as Oyaarss announces his move to Ad Noiseam.

On the upside, all us fans get to hear his debut full-length "Bads" sooner, with a release planned for March.

Read the story in full here.

We wish Arvids every success with his step up to the mighty Ad Noiseam.

Steveby3

2012: Announcements.....

2012-01-13T13:43:00.008Z

Welcome back. 2011 was a bit on an uphill struggle for the label but we're now properly back in business and looking forward to 2012 in a massive way. We have big plans this year and there are some very exciting releases coming up so keep your eyes and ears peeled.

In very exciting news, 3by3 is proud to announce the imminent arrival of Justin Broadrick's JK Flesh project to the label catalogue. We're trying our best to not get over excited and announce things too early but we're setting our sites on an April release. Fans of the more brutal side of Justin's music will not be disappointed and anyone attending Roadburn festival will get a sneak preview. Huge thanks to Kev Martin for putting us in touch!

Forthcoming releases due in 2012 also include Oyaarss, Devilman and a very special remix release featuring Altar Of Plagues and Ben Frost!

Stay in touch! Twitter is what we use most frequently but we also have pages on YouTube and Facebook, and you can subscribe to email updates right here on the blog.

Much more news to follow soon.

Steveby3

November update.....

2011-11-08T15:30:00.010Z

About time for the monthly update methinks.....

Firstly, myself and Carl were very pleased with our Cloaks performance at Supersonic. We put the set together for that show specifically and although not entirely live, it was a real development on our previous DJ style outings. 3by3 LOVE Supersonic and we enjoyed it immensely as usual, here's looking forward to next year.

Secondly, I had planned to get the Oyaarss album out before xmas but we've had to push it back to early 2012 due to funding issues. In the meantime, anyone craving some Oyaarss niceness can check out his mix for Darkfloor's Mantis Radio Broadcast series. For links, tracklist and info, visit the Darkfloor website here.
Many more exciting announcements to come soon including a progress update on the JK Flesh album and a very special collaboration with Altar Of Plagues.

Steveby3

3by3008 | Cloaks - Versions Grain.....

2011-10-07T18:33:00.007+01:00

The 3by3 label returns from a long hiatus with a new distribution partner and renewed vigour to unveil its most anticipated release to date, ‘Versions Grain’ – remixes and versions of tracks from Cloaks’ 2009 debut album ‘Versus Grain’, where the label began.

Nine heavyweight industrial workouts featuring contributions from guest remixers Ancient Methods and Legion Of Two, alongside the entire 3by3 roster – JK Flesh (aka Justin Broadrick of Godflesh and Jesu), Dead Fader, Devilman, Oyaarss and Volt Music.

The inimitable Ancient Methods emerge for the first time on CD, providing a 9-minute slab of industrial Techno bass weight to get folks dancing like they mean it.
Planet Mu’s Legion Of Two make their first appearance since their 2009 album ‘Riffs’, adding their distinctive sound of live drums and tough electronics.
New 3by3 signing JK Flesh gets his first label outing. Yet another project from the insanely prolific Justin Broadrick (Godflesh/Jesu/Palesketcher), providing just a taste of what to expect from the forthcoming album.
Dead Fader return to home listening format following their 2010 debut album ‘Corrupt My Examiner’ and a succession of international live shows.
Latvian producer Oyaarss puts his unique spin on ‘Sixmenace Two’, promising a lot from his debut full-length, due on 3by3 later this year.
Also opening their 3by3 account is Devilman, featuring Shige Ishihara (DJ Scotch Egg/Seefeel) and Gorgonn (Dokkebi Q), finally making their release debut.
Carl Cloaks’ solo project Volt Music also gets a first airing and Cloaks offer up two alternative cuts that didn’t make the album.

A killer remix package in its own right but also an excellent step forward for the 3by3 label, providing an indication of things to come from its roster over the next 18 months.

Steveby3

3by3 label relaunch.....

2011-09-07T12:53:00.011+01:00

September 2011 represents somewhat of a relaunch for the label where we'll be returning from a long hiatus with renewed vigour and a new distribution partner in SRD. The whole back catalogue will be available again, along with a couple of exciting new releases, due before the end of the year.

First on the agenda is the Versions Grain full length album, a 12” sampler of which was released back in May. Combining versions and remixes of tracks from Cloaks’ 2009 debut, this album features the inimitable Ancient Methods and new 3by3 signing Justin Broadrick (Godflesh/Jesu) under his JK Flesh moniker. A killer remix package in its own right but also an excellent introduction to the breadth of the 3by3 roster, promising big things over the next 18 months.

Myself and Carl are also looking forward to our Cloaks set at Supersonic in October.

If you haven't done so already, go and download the 3by3 label showcase podcast from Electronic Explorations.

More news soon.

Steveby3

3by3 sign with SRD.....

2011-07-15T13:25:00.003+01:00

Great news, things are finally on the up.

3by3 are very pleased to announce that we've recently signed a new distribution deal with SRD. All archive releases will be available again soon with production of 3BY3008 beginning as soon as possible.

It's been a bit of a grind over the last few months but we're finally beginning to get re-established. I have high hopes for the new partnership and I think the label has found itself a great home.

More news and updates to follow soon.

Steveby3

Harsh times.....

2011-06-28T19:56:00.004+01:00

It's been a rough time for the label lately.

We have sadly lost our funding and distribution through Baked Goods finally shutting shop. Baked have been a solid rock since our inception and were chiefly the reason I was able to release anything at all. It might be for the best in the long term but losing the partnership has been a very sad ordeal and has also meant that we've unexpectedly lost ownership of a lot of stock.

At present, we have no funding, no distributor and no way of getting our stock back.

I'm working hard to resolve the situation and I'll announce anything new as and when it's sorted.

In the meantime, look forward to the mix we did for Electronic Explorations, due very soon.

Steveby3

Cloaks at Supersonic Festival 2011...

2011-05-18T18:34:00.009+01:00

Very pleased to announce that Cloaks are confirmed to play at this year's Supersonic Festival. I enjoyed it so much last year, especially the crowd, so extremely chuffed to be invited back!

This year, we're aiming to both attend and put together a set that's more than just DJing. The fully live set is still in development but we're hoping to make it more of a show than last year.

The full line up has been posted over on the Supersonic website with many more acts to be announced soon.

Steveby3

End of April update.....

2011-04-30T12:11:00.011+01:00

Lots going on at 3by3 HQ as usual, here's a round up of what's happening over the coming months.

First off, Cloaks have just completed their mix for Rob Booth's amazing Electronic Explorations podcast series. EE is an essential resource for hearing great new music so go and check it out if you aren't familiar. I'll post updates as to when our mix is going live on the blog and twitter, so go and subscribe/follow if you haven't already. The mix is a 3by3 label showcase and features forthcoming tracks from the Oyaarss and Devilman albums, along with unreleased gems from the rest of the roster, including Cloaks, Dead Fader, JK Flesh and Volt Music.

Next up, just a reminder that copies of Cloaks' Versions Grain LP Sampler 12" are still available but going fast. Head over to Boomkat to grab your copy.

On the horizon, the 8th label release is in the pipeline - the 9-track CD and download album of Versions Grain by Cloaks. Featuring versions and remixes from their 2009 debut, with contributions from Ancient Methods, JK Flesh, Legion Of Two, Dead Fader, Oyaarss, Devilman and Volt Music. The label is between distros at the moment but 008 will be first in production when everything settles. More news and promo stuff on this to come soon.

Also in development is the proper build of the 3by3music.com website, and debut albums from Oyaarss and Devilman. Head back soon for more updates.

Steveby3

Friday floor-clearing.....

2011-04-11T14:33:00.005+01:00

Thanks to everyone who came down to the Rough Trade Warehouse Party on Friday night. Really enjoyed hearing some Cloaks dubplates nice and loud for the first time. It was pure floor-clearing carnage.

Shouts to Bo Ningen, Cataract Operation, Rough Trade, Adverse Camber and everyone else who made it down.

Finally also managed to get the opportunity to put in some work with Ambigraph on the design of the proper 3by3 website. It's been a long time coming but it's getting to the stage where social networking pages are vexing me greatly, and a central hub of information with a proper news feed is the only way to go. The old holding page will be replaced soon with the full new build hopefully finished this side of winter.

Updates on the website as well as the Versions Grain CD/digital release, the forthcoming Oyaarss album and the forthcoming Devilman album, to follow very soon.

Remember to subscribe to the blog and follow 3by3 on twitter.

Steveby3

Gig this Friday etc.....

2011-04-05T01:44:00.011+01:00

The Versions Grain LP sampler is already shipping at Boomkat but will be available everywhere else this week. It's exclusive to vinyl and, with only 400 copies available ever, you need to get in quick before they're gone. More news to follow on the full CD and digital release very soon.

In other news, I'm gearing up for a Cloaks DJ/VJ set for Rough Trade this Friday at The Red Gallery, Rivington St, London. Would be great to see some heads down there.

I've got a whole bag of harsh treats ready and I'll be playing purely Cloaks and associated remixes of/from, including a whole bunch of new dubplates.

Visuals will be courtesy of our good friend Ameet Hindocha from Ambigraph. We're on first so arrive promptly for some early bird Cloaks carnage!

More information on the Rough Trade site over here - http://www.roughtrade.com/site/news_detail.lasso?story_id=1379

Steveby3

3by3007 - Versions Grain LP sampler.....

2011-03-30T23:44:00.015+01:00

3by3 is very pleased to announce that 3BY3007 will be shipping next week. Here's some blurb.....

Launching 2 years back with Cloaks’ debut album ‘Versus Grain’, the 3by3 label celebrates its 2nd birthday with its most anticipated release to date, ‘Versions Grain’ – a selection of versions and remixes of the tracks that started it all.

Limited to just 400 copies for the world, this hand stamped and numbered guerilla white label lifts 4 tracks from the forthcoming CD and download release, and features contributions from Ancient Methods, JK Flesh, Legion Of Two and Oyaarss.

First up it’s a guest spot from Legion Of Two, taking on the fierce ‘Against’, and adding their distinctive sound of live drums and tough electronics.

Next up, Latvian producer Oyaarss puts his spin on ‘Sixmenace Two’, providing a perfect introduction for the new 3by3 signing, and promising a lot from his full-length debut album, due on 3by3 this year.

On the flipside we have a killer guest appearance from the fearless Ancient Methods, taking on the militant ‘R.F.I.D.’ and providing yet another slab of hard-hitting industrial techno to get the crowds dancing like they mean it.

Lastly, new 3by3 signing JK Flesh gets his first label outing, remixing the classic ‘Rust On Metal’. Another project from the insanely prolific Justin Broadrick (Godflesh, Jesu, Palesketcher etc.), this first outing under the JK Flesh moniker gives just a taste of what’s to come from the full-length album release, due on 3by3 next year.

A killer remix package in its own right, but also an excellent step forward for the 3by3 label, providing an indication of things to come from its roster over the next 18 months.

Strictly no represses, you know the drill ;-)

Steveby3

Radio Silence.....

2011-03-25T19:10:00.023Z

So I'm counting this hiatus as the longest to date - some five months since my last post. Don't really want to get into the details of it all but lets just say that paying rent has had to unfortunately come first. There have also been significant changes to 3by3 production processes and funding which has put everything way behind schedule.

On the upside, a lot of pieces are now falling into place so the label is back with renewed vigour, with lots of exciting announcements to come over the next fortnight or so.

First of which, is the imminent release of 3BY3007, a 4-track 12" sampler of the forthcoming Cloaks remix album 'Versions Grain', featuring remixes and versions of tracks from their 2009 debut.

Limited to just 400 hand-numbered and stamped copies, the 12" sampler lifts four tracks from the forthcoming CD and download release, and features contributions from Ancient Methods, Legion Of Two, JK Flesh and Oyaarss.

More detailed news to follow on this very soon but expect to see it hitting shops in the next fortnight.

In other exciting news, myself and the 3by3 resident visual artist, Ameet Hindocha, will be performing a Cloaks DJ/VJ set at the forthcoming Rough Trade Warehouse Party on April 8th at The Red Gallery, Rivington Street, London.

I'll write again very soon with updates on the forthcoming 12" and gig. There's also a lot more on the horizon so check back soon for more updates or subscribe to get the news in your inbox.

Steveby3

3by3 at Supersonic Festival 2010.....

2010-10-27T23:04:00.005+01:00

Huge thanks to the guys at Capsule for organising an amazing festival - an incredible array of truly provocative and interesting music. We all had a blast!!!!!

There are already some great bits of live footage kicking around on youtube, so get hunting.

Point B - 'Suicide Beauty Spot Remixes (Part 1)' feat. Cloaks.....

2010-08-27T16:38:00.006+01:00

Combat Recordings recently announced the download release of Point B's 'Suicide Beauty Spot Remixes (Part 1)'. The first bunch of remixes features Cursor Miner, Blackmass Plastics, Kelpe and of course, Cloaks. Download available at all fine digital outlets, more info on the Combat site here.

The keen-eyed and eared amongst you would have heard snippets of the Cloaks remix on the myspace, and news of this release right here on the blog previously. We're all very pleased that it's finally seeing the light of day, and have our fingers crossed for a vinyl cut later in 2010.

Also watch out for Part 2 of this release, featuring an epic remix from Dead Fader.

Huge shout to Derek at Combat Recordings for the opportunity.

Steveby3

Desolate Turves (mini-LP).....

2010-08-25T21:07:00.011+01:00

Cloaks return to follow up their ground-destroying 2009 debut album 'Versus Grain' with a new mini-LP of toughened-up, ear-crushing cuts. 'Desolate Turves' is five tracks of obscenely hard, beat-driven noise, showcasing the next stage of Cloaks' ongoing metamorphosis.

Released 27th September 2010 - 12" vinyl and download.

End of July update.....

2010-07-28T11:45:00.004+01:00

So another long hiatus, as Cloaks have been back in the studio. We're working on ideas towards the second album, and also building towards our (long-time coming) live set, to coincide with the second full-length release.

The label has been ticking over nicely though. After the shipping issues affecting the Dead Fader album, we're now a lot more prepared, and less rushed in our preparation of the forthcoming releases for the rest of 2010.

Up next is another Cloaks release - official launch and release news coming soon.

We're also planning a Versus Grain remix/versions release for later in the year featuring remixes from Ancient Methods, JK Flesh, Legion Of Two, Dead Fader, Oyaarss and Devilman. Much more news on this soon.

Back very soon with some more updates.

steveby3

Cloaks remix business.....

2010-05-30T11:51:00.008+01:00

As you may be aware, Cloaks have been working on remixes and collaborations for a while. In fact, the whole of 2010 so far has been dedicated to these, but we've recently tied them all up. Here's what we've been working on:

Legion Of Two - "And Now We Wait (Cloaks remix)" - Part of our remix swap with the Irish two-piece. Their remake of Against is killer and will be out on 3by3 before the end of the year. Unfortunately, I don't think our remix went down as well with Planet Mu, as releasing it has yet to be discussed.

Akala - "Welcome To Dystopia" - Written in collaboration with Akala and produced by Cloaks towards his new album 'Doublethink'. The track was then re-produced by someone else for the album version. Our version has not been confirmed for release as yet, but was discussed as a free download.

Point B - "Suicide Beauty Spot (Cloaks remix)" - We were one of many artists invited to remix a track from Point B's album. We tackled the album title track, which has been confirmed as forthcoming on Combat Recordings. I belileve it is planned as a digital release with some of the cuts making it to a 12" sampler - fingers crossed ours is one of the chosen!

Ben Frost - "Hibakusja (Cloaks remix)" - As a HUGE Ben Frost fan, it was an absolute honour to play with some of his stunning audio. This came about purely out of me hassling him like a fan boy, and has now been confirmed as forthcoming on Bedroom Community. I believe the plan is a split 7" with a Scanner remix.

Altar Of Plagues - "Watchers Restrained (Cloaks remix)" - Ben Frost was completing a remix for these guys and invited us on board. This was great fun - working with some proper metal sounds, and even getting to mess around with some screams! This has been confirmed for release, along with remixes from Ben Frost and other artists, label and format to be confirmed.

.....

More news on all of this as it happens.

In the meantime, we're really pleased to be returning to our own material with fresh perspective. We've had a lot of fun working on remixes, and especially working with live audio performances for the Ben Frost and Altar Of Plagues material. This live approach is something we'll definitely be taking towards our second album, and this time around, there'll be a lot more room for experimentation, and pushing the noise even further.

That's all for now, news on the next few releases coming soon.

steveby3

End of May update.....

2010-05-27T15:39:00.003+01:00

So lots happening as always.

First off, want to say thank you to everyone who attended, and everyone involved in sorting the Jesu/Dead Fader/Cloaks gig in Manchester a couple of weeks back. I really enjoyed it, even if my set was early and cut a little short :-) Jesu were great and Dead Fader totally killed it for me, can't wait to get the Cloaks live set sorted so we can get involved in the live thing proper!

Speaking of Dead Fader, you may have noticed that the original album release date of 11th May went slightly tits up! A lot of UK shops actually had it ahead of this, and it's been fairly easy to get hold of, but international customers may have had issues. The whole volcano thing put shipping back by a long way, but hopefully, it should be available everywhere from June 8th, fingers crossed!

Up next in the release schedule is the 'Desolate Turves E.P.' by Cloaks. This is a 5-track 12" and download release, designed as a bridge between Versus Grain, and the sound we're working on now. Release dates tbc as usual, but this will definitely be 3BY3006 - snippets from this release can be heard at the Cloaks myspace.

Cloaks remix business coming soon!

steveby3

Jesu / Dead Fader / Cloaks (DJ) this Saturday in Manchester...

2010-05-12T11:26:00.005+01:00

Super pumped for the gig this Saturday. I'm DJing solo plus there will be live sets from both Dead Fader and head-liners Jesu.

Saturday 15th May @ Sound Control, Manchester - 7.30 - 11pm as part of the FutureEverything festival. Read all the blurb over here.

It's some kind of bizarre 3by3 AGM, and I'm looking forward to catching up with Dead Fader, Justin, and the boys from Baked Goods. Most of my associates in one room.

Hope to see a lot of folks down there.....

stevecloaks

Dead Fader album release.....

2010-04-19T11:31:00.007+01:00

3by3 are very proud to finally announce the official release of Dead Fader's debut album 'Corrupt My Examiner'.

"It's playful but sick. Like a puppy with extremely sharp teeth" - Justin K Broadrick (Jesu/Godflesh)

The 9-track CD will arrive in UK shops at around the 27th April, with the CD and Download version reaching internationally on 11th May.

You can hear advanced snippets by visiting the Dead Fader myspace and the 3by3 myspace. For fans of everyone from Distance through to Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Dead Fader are sure to break some heads and ears in 2010.

This release represents a huge step forward for the 3by3 label, being the first of many 'third party artist' releases due over the next year. With your support, we will continue to source the most confrontational and unique sounds within electronic music. Watch this space as always.

stevecloaks

Subscription issues.....

2010-04-16T14:40:00.004+01:00

It would seem that our facility for signing up to email updates hasn't been working recently. The problem is fixed and you can now ensure you never miss a thing by by getting the latest 3by3 label news direct to your inbox.

Simply click the subscribe link on the label myspace or the sidebar here, and enter a valid email address. If you're really keen, you can just click here instead for the same effect.

Don't forget you can now also follow us on twitter.

More news soon.....

stevecloaks

Another long hiatus.....

2010-04-16T04:29:00.005+01:00

So things have been crazy hectic for 3by3 since new year. Cloaks have been really busy in the studio plus I've been working with Dead Fader on their album (almost there), rehashing the 3by3 digital provision, acquiring new artists, A+Ring and all sorts. I figured now to be about time for a full update.

I've really been trying to give the label a proper launch, which always felt weird when releasing my own material. With the addition of a few artists to the roster, it has started feeling like a true label and a number of other things have started falling into place. In light of all this, I've relaunched the 3by3 online presence, and done a shed load of work today to get some things in place. Check the updates as follows.....

Firstly, the label now has it's own dedicated Myspace page where you can hear snippets of forthcoming 3by3 releases from the whole roster. I know nobody really 'uses' Myspace any more, but I figure it's good representation while we continue to construct the proper website. Come and friend up the label at www.myspace.com/3by3music

Secondly, I've finally bitten the bullet and got the label it's own Twitter page. While right here on the Blog will remain the best place to stay informed; I'm hoping that 'tweeting', or whatever, may produce some little gems for those of you who are really interested. Follow us at www.twitter.com/3by3music

Lastly, those of you in the know may have noticed that the Blog has had a minor facelift, and the Cloaks Myspace has had a complete re-haul. If you haven't seen it all yet get involved!

Loads more info coming regarding the Dead Fader album, Cloaks remix business, and more forthcoming releases - keep it locked here as usual.

stevecloaks

Dead Fader Autumn Rot 12" - out now.....

2010-02-18T13:26:00.007Z

3BY3004 has finally started hitting shops and will be available most places next week.

You can find an exclusive mix they did for Electronic Explorations over here, and don't forget to check the mix they did for Combat's Riddim and Bruise show on sub fm here.

3by3 roster/schedule 2010/11.....

2010-01-20T12:23:00.011Z

Since Versus Grain came out, I've been steadily building a small roster and release schedule that I think presents a more challenging, provocative palette of electronic music. 2010 will see the debut releases from a couple of these artists, and the schedule over the next year is looking aggressive.

First is Dead Fader. Their album entitled 'Corrupt My Examiner' will drop in March, with a lead in 12" happening mid-Feb. Dead Fader will be out and about performing live, and I'm hoping you'll hear a lot about them over the next couple of months. The album has been a long time coming but it's all dusted now, and we're ready to unleash so keep your eyes peeled for these:

After the Dead Fader stuff is all done, we have another debut outing, this time from Latvian breakstep/ambient master Oyaarss. His album has also been in development for a while and is pencilled in for late summer. We shared a 12" with him in late 2009, remixing his 'A La Holeage' for the Abstractions imprint. Oyaarss did a remix for us in return that might also see the light of day in 2010.

Elsewhere, there is a new Cloaks EP scheduled for May and a couple more artists developing material for us towards 2011 in the shape of Devilman and JK Flesh.

Onwards and upwards

stevecloaks

Cloaks new year business.....

2010-01-18T16:43:00.003Z

Apologies for the lack of updates over solstice. I'm having a bit of a reboot at 3by3 HQ which, when combined with the recent Cloaks hiatus, has left everything very quiet. Since finishing Versus Grain we've been steadily building new tracks and over the past few months in particular, have been involved in a lot of remix work and collaborations plus steady efforts towards building our live set.

On our own material, we have a new EP finished, due for release on 3by3 in around May. It's entitled 'Desolate Turves E.P.' and contains 5 tracks that you may have heard on the myspace, if you've been paying attention. These tracks represent a kind of post-album Cloaks sound that will bridge the gap between Versus Grain and our newer directions.

A remix we finished a while ago was "And now we wait" for Legion of Two, originally taken from their album 'Riffs' on Planet Mu. There are no plans for release on this at the moment but this was actually a swap, and so there is a remix of "Against" by Legion of Two forthcoming on 3by3.

Our most recent remix was for Point B, reconstructing "Suicide Beauty Spot" from his album of the same name on Combat Recordings. This is due for digital and 12" release on Combat in 2010 so stay tuned for this - there's a snippet on our myspace.

We've also been working on a collaboration with UK rapper Akala. The track is towards his next album and in its barest of forms, is already sounding great. It's been a really good learning curve to work with a vocalist for the first time and we're pleased with how its sounding - more on this very soon.

Other works in progress include a remix for Irish metal band Altar of Plagues and a very special hook up with Ben Frost - more news on these to follow too.

Stay up to date here and on the myspace as usual.

stevecloaks

Prague Set on Youtube.....

2009-11-04T09:12:00.004Z

Check this video footage of our recent set in Prague.

Watch me get irate at jumpy needles - LOL

Last night in Prague.....

2009-10-28T23:31:00.002Z

Many thanks to everyone who turned out to the show last night. A genuinely pleasant experience all-round - no attitude, professional promoters, up-for-it crowd, smoking indoors - awesome!

Apologies for the constant needle jumps during our set. Half of the rig was actually on the stage, and when you consider that the stage is essentially a resonant wooden box, it's maybe not the best bet for avoiding stage vibration. It honestly felt like being in an underground bunker during a bombing. Anyway, I hope you still enjoyed what you heard despite the skips, we really enjoyed ourselves regardless, and met some really nice people along the way.

Zomby didn't turn up (shocker) and so Gaslamp Killer stepped in at short notice despite being a flu-ridden shell of a human being - he came through like a real soldier and performed an amazingly energetic set considering the circumstances - the people of prague should thank him.

The Bug ripped it up as was expected - my ears are still ringing and I'm fairly religious about wearing my ear-plugs!

Mluvíte anglicky?

Thanks especially to the Stimul crowd for making it all possible...

stevecloaks

Next Tuesday in Prague.....

2009-10-19T01:46:00.005+01:00

Click here for more info.

Abstractions 001 with Oyaarss

2009-10-13T16:55:00.003+01:00

Abstractions001 - Oyaarss - "A la Holeage"
A: Original mix
B: Cloaks remix

I'm very pleased to announce the imminent release of this 12". The all black package should hit shelves Monday if all goes well. You can hear snippets at our myspace pages. Here's the blurb.....

"The excellent Creative Space label from Greece takes an away day for this extra-special release on their Abstractions imprint. Oyaarss is as broadly agreeable as the name may suggest, finding the original of 'A la Holeage' becoming a firm unreleased favourite of Mary Ann Hobbs, and rapidly becoming notorious amongst noise and experimental fans, not to mention the more sonically adventurous dubsteppers. Cloaks take the opportunity to put down their most sonically extreme material to date, as downright nasty certainly as anything yet emitted from their studios. A matching of like minds offers stunning and yet differing results -- where Oyaarss occupies an obliterated post-hardcore landscape, Cloaks almost allow you to experience the very elapsing moments of obliteration. Thoroughly invigorating and highly recommended!"

I love Oyaarss' music, and this is the classic track that everyone knows of his. It was a great pleasure to remix and I hope this release will wet mouths ready for his full-length outing on 3by3 next year.

Elsewhere, there are remixes happening in all shapes and sizes but don't want to give it all away here. 2010 is going to be busy.

stevecloaks

Forthcoming.....

2009-09-24T18:00:00.002+01:00

Firstly, apologies for not writing in so long. I prefer to keep these things informative and short so I don't post unless I actually have something to say.....

The Dead Fader stuff is going well. The first 12" is in the process of getting cut, and the album is sounding and looking much more focused every day. I'm really excited to get this material out and see your reactions. More news and confirmed release dates soon.

On a side-note - There is a forthcoming 12" from the Creative Space camp (but on a different label) which includes a Cloaks remix. The original track is one of my personal favourites from recent times and is by an artist that I rate very highly so it was an absolute pleasure to get the invite - Big up to Nikos from Creative Space for pulling it all together. You can likely expect droppage by the end of October so keep an eye out.

Additionally, those of you based in the Czech Republic will be glad to hear that we are confirmed to DJ at the Stimul Festival in Prague. Zomby and The Bug are also performing so it should be a heavyweight night. The date for your diary is Tuesday 27th October and you can get more information from the organisers here.

stevecloaks

A quick update...

2009-08-14T17:00:00.003+01:00

Been quiet a little too long I thought.....

I've been working hard with Dead Fader, getting their album together. The boys journeyed up from Brighton last weekend and we spent ages on the A+R tip. Their myspace is now updated with some samplers from the album so go friend them up and grab a listen. Really excited about unleashing this material, first 12" has an ETA of October.

We also took a trip to the Cloaks studio and did some proper analogue crunching on some of their sounds. You might eventually hear a Dead Fader / Cloaks split 12" of the results...who knows...

On a side-note, we recently received what I consider to be the best review of the Cloaks album. It comes from the FACT website with a recommendation, and they also did a small feature about the album before its release. In truth, Joe who wrote the review has been a fan of ours for a while, but its not the rating that I like: it's the accuracy of the comparisons and the clear understanding of what we're doing. Read the full review here.

Back in a while with more news.....

stevecloaks

What happens now.....

2009-08-06T10:47:00.003+01:00

With the label established and the Cloaks back-catalogue now (mostly) released, you might think that all will be quiet from 3by3 until more Cloaks material.

The truth is that 3by3 is not an artist label and I have always intended to invite related artists and provide an output for material that I feel is important.

To this end, we already have releases in development from Dead Fader and Oyaarss, and 3by3 will definitely be returning before the end of the year.

Stay in touch and up to date here.

stevecloaks

Press comes good.....

2009-08-01T12:18:00.003+01:00

After a few weeks of smashing our heads against the wall trying to get some press coverage for the album, it seems that Versus Grain has finally seeped through the cracks and is starting to reach the right people.

We got a nice little bit of coverage from xlr8r. They obviously instantly 'got' what it's all about.

We've also got a little mention from Tom Ravenscroft on his page in NME this week - scary stuff!

Another very positive review on the watarimono page.

Remix didn't like it as much as some.

But the guys at aquarius really like it.

The reviews from shops like rough trade, norman, smallfish, boomkat and adnoiseam also seemed generally positive.

We're also really pleased with the way listeners have been reacting, there seems to be a strong little community of extreme/electronic fans around online and whoever you guys are, you're ensuring that we can continue to put music out so thanks very much.

Thank you all for sponsoring us.

stevecloaks

Versus Grain digital release...

2009-07-13T11:00:00.003+01:00

For all you file-heads out there, Versus Grain has now dropped in digital format.

It's currently available exclusively at Juno Download and Boomkat only.

As I add more vendors to the list, I'll post updates so stay informed on here and the myspace. Any vendors reading this who want to get involved can contact the label - info@3by3music.com

3by3003 - Junk / R.F.I.D. 12"

2009-07-13T10:39:00.004+01:00

The final instalment of vinyl cuts from Versus Grain is now available.

3by3003 features 'Junk' and 'R.F.I.D.' in heavyweight system-wrecking vinyl form, masterfully cut by Jay at Transition (how he manages to balance out all of our whitenoise is a miracle).

As usual, you can find it at your chosen independent music specialist and it has already appeared at the following places online:

Juno, Norman, Boomkat, Chemical, RedEye

Press shots.....

2009-07-11T18:22:00.014+01:00

With the Cloaks album getting absolutely zero press coverage, I thought I'd post the press shots up here on the blog.

It took some real work and effort from Cloaks and Ameet (3by3 visuals) to get them together and it seemed a real shame that they would never get used, so here they are...

DJ Intoner takes over Connexion Bizarre Radio

2009-07-06T23:36:00.001+01:00

Our friend DJ Intoner, recently sent me this killer mix which I felt I should share.

Click here to stream or right-click to download.

Tracklist...

01. Connextion Bizzare Webcast Identifier / Introduction by Free Death.
02. (00:55) Oyaarss - A La Holeage (Feat. Cuuku Piseejs) [Unreleased]
03. (05:18) Gridlock - Burn [The Synthetic Form - Pendragon Records]
04. (06:55) Spherical Distrupted - Beryllium [Barriere - Audiophob]
05. (08:00) Selfsimilar - Godspeed [The Darkweight EP - Bassweight Recordings]
06. (11:24) Vaski - Resonate [The Union EP - Rottun Recordings]
07. (13:50) Hecq - Spheres Of Fury (with Exillon) [Unreleased - Big Mean Robot]
08. (20:08) Cloaks - Against [Against / Rust on Metal - 3by3]
09. (22:05) Sleeparchive - Russia [L.A.C. / Russia - Stamp Release]
10. (25:34) Goldfinger - Chainsaw [The Launch EP Part 3 - Rottun Recordings]
11. (27:15) Rosewater - Normality [Motor Medicine - Sturm]
12. (30:55) Vex'd - Thunder [Degenerate - Planet Mu]
13. (32:20) Broken Note - War In The Making [War In The Making / No Struggle - Ruff]
14. (34:55) Gunjack - Down The Ox [A Murder Of Crows - Consume]
15. (36:11) Sully- Voidsucka [Destroyah - Creative Space Records]
16. (41:41) Marching Dynamics- Un fall able (Endif Remix) [Unreleased]
17. (45:24) Candlenine - Penumbra [Unreleased]
18. (51:30) Intoner vs. Ahnst Anders & Toninstitut - Sleepless (Deprivation) [Sleepless - play33]

Additional DJ Mixes by Intoner + booking information @ www.intoner.org.

For more information on Connextion Bizarre, visit them at: www.connexionbizarre.net

Versus Grain - Boomkat review

2009-06-27T01:13:00.008+01:00

Here's what Boomkat.com had to say about the debut album:

Apologies for the poor quality image, read it online here.

The album drops...

2009-06-25T09:51:00.004+01:00

The CD is now turning up on various UK websites ahead of it's official release on Monday.

It's up on boomkat and chemical already and will slowly start to appear in other places before Monday.

If anyone happens to see any reviews of it anywhere that we might have missed, please get in touch by dropping us a message on our Myspace or email - info@3by3music.com.

For anyone curious about formats, the album will NOT appear on vinyl but will be available as digital from 13th July. There is a second 12" of album cuts also dropping 13th July and along with the Against 12", are the only album tracks to be available on vinyl. These aren't likely to see a re-press either so get in quick!

3by3 will return with different artists before the end of the year.

Watch this space...

Adverse Camber night at Corsica - 4th June

2009-06-22T23:19:00.015+01:00

Quick post about the night down at Corsica on 4th June.

Big appreciations to Ameet, Paul, Rory and everyone at Adverse Camber for putting on such a great night.

Also big thanks to all guests for rolling up and representing on a school night and all the performers for churning out some truly jaw-dropping sounds.

Follow this link for more pics from the night.

The album - announced

2009-06-06T19:41:00.009+01:00

Cloaks are very pleased to finally announce our debut album; 'Versus Grain'. It lands 29th June on CD, with the digital following on 13th July.

Physical distribution is through Baked Goods and the CD should be available at all the usual shops like Boomkat and Juno plus some biggies like Amazon and Play.

Digital will be available through Boomkat and Juno Download for the time being, with more vendors to follow.

Massive thanks to Ameet Hindocha, Baked Goods and Jay@Transition for all their hard work.

stevecloaks

London gig - Corsica Studios 4th June

2009-05-18T12:55:00.003+01:00

Forthcoming London gig.....

Adverse Camber
bass/noise/electronics

Thursday 4th June @ Corsica Studios, SE17 1LB
8pm - 2am
£5 before 10pm, £7 after

El Kano vs. Cloaks DJ mix on Sub FM

2009-04-23T15:14:00.002+01:00

The guys behind Combat Recordings invited us to be a part of their monthly radio show 'Riddim n Bruise' on Sub FM. El Kano did the mix and we then crunched the shit out of it in the Cloaks studio. The show was originally broadcast 30th March, download available here.

3by3001 review on boomkat

2009-04-15T12:55:00.003+01:00

Here's what boomkat had to say about the new 12".....

First 3by3 release out now

2009-04-11T01:59:00.003+01:00

So the first 3by3 release has finally landed and is now available from all good retailers. You can find it online at boomkat, juno and many other sites.

Here's the blurb.....

3BY3001 Cloaks - Against / Rust On Metal 12"

The “Against / Rust On Metal” 12” is two titanic slabs of low-end, rolling noise; beats as heavy as hell and a sound as fat as it is unrelenting - Cloaks debut release on the 3By3 label sorts out the men from the boys for sure; two utterly unforgiving cuts of harsh, icy, metallic dub, the former complimenting the latter with equal measures of sick diversity. Cloaks pick up the gauntlet for pushing sound where Ben Frost’s ‘Theory Of Machines’ album left off. ‘Against’ and ‘Rust On Metal’ are lifted from the forthcoming Cloaks debut album ‘Versus Grain’, and as an indicator for the shape of things to come from the 3By3 label, delivered with an intent to fuck you up…definitely one of this years most forward thinking releases so far; Jah Shaka meets Wolf Eyes with Skream at the controls? That’s just sexy.

new 12" review in THE WIRE

2009-03-18T17:28:00.010Z

With the debut 3by3 release looming we were chuffed to receive this great review from Joe Muggs for THE WIRE magazine.

Our favourite part is "oppression and brutality".

3BY3001

2009-02-08T21:43:00.007Z

We're pleased to announce the imminent arrival of the first 3by3 release, the first new Cloaks material since May 2007 and the lead-in to our debut album. This finally sees the release of the 'Against' / 'Rust On Metal' 12", originally intended for WerkDiscs, which we cut with Jay at Transition back in August 2007.

We're really pleased to be finally getting these tunes out and moving on. It's also just another step towards the album and from the label point of view, provides a great sense of achievement and relief. Big thanks to the guys at Baked Goods distribution for all their help and support with getting 3by3 off the ground!

If any of you DJs or Press types would like to support our music, please email danny@baked-goods.com to be added to the promos list. For sales and distribution, contact simon@baked-goods.com

We'll keep you posted on pre-orders and proper release dates when available. In the meantime, we'll put some clips back up on the myspace - keep checking back for album previews and more news.

myspace.com/cloaks
3by3music.com

Cloaks on the Creative Space podcast

2009-01-20T15:53:00.011Z

We've done a short studio mix for the guys at Creative Space in Greece as part of their new regular podcast. Two hours worth of experimental electronics featuring unreleased tracks from Kansas City Prophets, Blackmass Plastics, Nam Shub of Enki and many more.

Left-click here to get the download and subscribe to the feed. Track listing follows.....

Creative Space podcast 1 featuring Cloaks
19 January 2009 21:52

Kernelcoremode :
01.Relapxych.o - hallucinogenitaliencryption (edit) (ghost sounds)
02.Matka - somnabulic (Moving Ninja rmx) (forthcoming creative space)
03.Spyweirdos - untitled from ten letters (forthcoming creative space)
04.Pan Sonic + Scanner - untitled (piano)
05.Monoton - singing and dancing (oval)
06.Deltidseskapism - tanken aterskapad (u-cover)
07.Spyweirdos - the oldest door (forthcoming abstractions)
08.Manekinekod - unable to display (monika enterprise)
09.Alva Noto - menschmaschine (mille plateaux)
10.Traject - bjart er yfir (forthcoming creative space)

Cloaks mix :
11.Cloaks - junk (unreleased)
12.Aeto - (side b) (anstam)
13.The Herrmutt Lobby - hazebola bassline (thin consolation)
14.Wasteland - radicalized (transparent)
15.Scorn - super mantis (combat)
16.Cloaks - against version (unreleased)
17.Cloaks - against (forthcoming 3by3)
18.Nhk - .....1 (raster noton)
19.Cloaks - #00148 (unreleased)
20.Cloaks - rust on metal (forthcoming 3by3)
21.Machinefabriek - woeling (ben frost remix) (machinefabriek)

Kernelcoremode :
22.Oyaars - holeage (unreleased)
23.Kansas City Prophets - tunneltone (unreleased)
24.Fragile - on a bubble (unreleased)
25.Migrant - studio blues (unreleased)
26.Relocate - better have (unreleased)
27.Blackmass Plastics - zargon (unreleased)
28.Nam Shub of Enki - random acid (unreleased)

What is 3by3?

2008-11-23T21:42:00.011Z

3by3 is my fledgling label and business venture.

I have many long term ambitions for the label but it will initially act as a channel for all Cloaks output. Having been dormant release-wise for almost two-years, we have a substantial backlog of material to get through.

We're likely to kick off with the fated Against/Rust on Metal 12" which we originally planned to put out about a year ago and we have plenty more releases dusted and ready to follow up with.

Can't really give too much away at the moment and there is a lot to iron out but I'm hoping to properly announce releases and dates very soon.

In the meantime, the Cloaks myspace will be updated regularly with snippets from forthcoming 3by3 releases so keep checking back.

Thanks for your patience.

Forwards!

cloaksteve

All Change

2008-11-20T19:24:00.003Z

The past few months have been a real transition for Cloaks and a lot has changed. This comes off the back of extended studio time so we’ve had our heads buried in the sand for a while now. All this in mind, we’ve completely rehashed the myspace and started a blog to end the silence.

The big news is that we have parted company with WerkDiscs. This was a really tough decision for us to make with far too many factors involved to discuss in detail, suffice to say that we will now be more self-sufficient in every sense. Our relationship with Werk lasted over two years and has been key to the development of the project and ourselves as people. They remain friends and highly respected contemporaries.

We want to thank all of you for your continued support and checking back with us despite our two-year hiatus. The long wait is almost over, we have a lot of material set for unleashing and 2009 is going to be a busy year for Cloaks.

Much more news to follow very soon.....