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32 year-old Ian O'Brien was born in Essex and grew up listening to the sounds of his parents' favourite music,The Beatles and Stevie Wonder.As a teenager he became seriously interested in musicÊ when a friend introduced him to the sound of fusion group Weather Report and pianist Herbie Hancock.He took up Guitar and went to college in his home town of Southend to study music. Around this time he became interested in electronic music after accidentally discovering the music of Underground Resistance,Derrick May and the other Detroit techno artists of the time.
Inspired by the Detroit sounds,Ian took up production and released his
debut EP as 'Memory Tree' in 1995 (co-produced with Asad Rizvi),receiving
playlist support from Kiss FM's Colin Dale and Colin Faver.This was
followed by a string of recordings for UK underground labels including
Ferox,4th Wave and Pacific records.His debut album 'DESERT SCORES' was
released in February 1997 on Ferox records,to great critical acclaim.The
album marked a change in style and enabled Ian to be seen not only as
a Techno producer,but also as an experimental artist exploring new sounds
and styles.The album's extensive use of odd time signatures set a trend
that was heard on electronic records throughout the late 90's.As a result
of the record's widespread appeal,he went on to do remix and productionÊ
work for artists as diverse as Lisa Stansfield,Japanese artist Monday
Michiru and Belgian pop stars Telex.He has since collaborated on material
with some of the best techno artists on the scene - including Claude
Young and Kirk Degiorgio amongst others.His long-awaited second album
'GIGANTIC DAYS' was released on UK Peacefrog records in April 1999.'Gigantic
Days' was re-released with new material for Japan in December 1999 on
the Toy's Factory label. In July 1999 Ian completed a specially commissioned
composition for a hit Japanese manga cartoon ('Cowboy Bebop').He also
compiled the double album/cd 'ABSTRACT FUNK THEORY' for Logic Records,
which was universally acclaimed by the music press.The compilation was
named 'compilation of the month' in DJ MAGAZINE and MINISTRY September
1999.His EP for Peacefrog records, 'Heartstrings', was voted best single
of the month in many UK magazines including the (now defunct) MUZIK
and JOCKEY SLUT.
November 2001 saw the much anticpated release of Ia 's third long player
'A History of Things To Come'. This crtically acclaimed album saw
something of a departure from the likes of earlier works like 'Desert
Score ', with further integration of brazilian and jazz music. Opting
for full collaborations instead of sampling performances, Ian worked
closely with Brazilian master percussionist Marcelo Salazar (who's known
for his work with Azymuth and Dom Um Romão) and Jazz saxophonist
Nathan Haines (who has himself gone on to enjoy a successful solo career
on the Chilli Funk label).
Ian continues to be an in-demand DJ worldwide, taking in audiences as
far afield as South Africa, Singapore and of course Brazil. Earlier
this year he completed a much acclaimed 'Peacefrog' tour with his fellow
label mates Matthew Herbert and Charles Webster. He is currently working
on his fourth solo album for Peacefrog records, to be released later
in the year, as well as a new project with Kirk Degiorgio.
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Ian o'Brien info 
