Paul Morrin, a.k.a. Spectac, has been producing odd un-categorisable music since his very first "track" in 1993 entitled: ※Space Rabbit§. Dubbed and crafted from delay pedal and a Yamaha PSR-400 keyboard, with the illustrious Dublin techno-legend Platinum Ray (Ting Chuggy), and that crazy Caffo guy you see around town. ※In these early days we had no clue of midi etc.§ states Morrin, ※It was all guitar pedals, record players, and scrap metal§, he says. Under their Members of PSR-400 moniker, the rabbit was received extremely well by a surprisingly large public, though The Members had never officially released or promoted it. In fact there wasn＊t a single review in writing.
About five hundred tracks and five years later, he finally purchased some real equipment, a Korg MS-10 and an EMU sampler. He set about a new project using mostly computer software, forming Piqlet with the drummer from local band The Jimmy Cake (then Das Madman), John Dermody. It was during this time that they set up local label Front End Synthetics as a platform to release theirs and their friends＊ music locally.
Morrin＊s debut live performance came around in 2000 at Vicar Street, playing support to Lee ＆Scratch＊ Perry & the Robotiks as Burning Man with Dublin＊s D1 & u:mack regular T車irse, all the while preparing for his own solo shows. These soon came in a flood around Dublin and parts of the country, sometimes playing up to 6 times in a month in venues the likes of the tiny Lazybird to larger festivals like M車r in Charleville castle, earning his reputation as one of the most original electronic acts in Ireland, and well able to get a crowd going when he wants to.
His music is mainly comprised of sharp-edged percussive sound with many various overlaying patterns. Melody-saturated riff writing with random twisted noise is another glorious trait of Spectac＊s. His first released track entitled ※Cyborgs in the face of every child§, on F.E.S.＊s second compilation ※Synthetic Allsorts§ came out in 2001. This immediatly led him to being asked for appearances on various compilations and for remixes by friends such as Planet-mu＊s Ambulance, Booger (T車irse) and a glistening mix on Rod's new EP: "All My Love".
Spectac＊s debut album in 2003; ※Rabbid§ on Front End Synthetics, affected many poor souls intensely (for better or worse) earning these quotes:
"A disturbing piece of electronic psychedelia" 每 anorak
"...sounds like it has grown of it's own accord in the woods at night, emerging spectre-like from the shadows...highly recommended album" 每 warpmart
"...anthemic, pounding, stately, slinky, and alien..." 每 grooves magazine
In 2004 Morrin took a year and a half break from touring the Dublin live circuit to work on music without the constant interruption of assembling and disassembling his outboard equipment, and preparing constantly alterating one-off live sets. As his skills in the studio started to improve Morrin was asked to help out as a programming engineer for South Dublin composer in residence; Daniel Figgis. He was asked to work on spatial sound effects for local animation crowd the Delicious 9＊s animated feature "Stars", which won ※best animated short§ at the Galway Film Fleadh in 2005. This also led him to a full sound & music credit on their next project ※Save the Robot§ for RTE＊s long running acclaimed children＊s show ※The Den§.
It was just then that he was requested to do an EP for the stylish and reputable offbeat Lo Recordings. Their new stamp LOaf releases a series of interesting and random fomats put together in beautiful 12" packaging designed by Non-format,, and showcase both an audio and a visual artist with each release. Spectac＊s third release, the five track ※Horn§ ep was released on LOaf in December 2006. Spectac is currently working on some new material.
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