Isolation, introspection and escapism are common themes in most great electronic music. From Detroit house’s desire to get away from the crumbling confines of Motor City and travel to the stars, to Kraftwerk’s Teutonic otherness, the urge to remain alienated and disconnected from the rest of society has inspired many landmark releases.
It’s premature to compare Soma signing Vector Lovers, aka York producer Martin Wheeler, to such innovators. However, on his forthcoming second album, Capsule For One, a familiar sense of isolation and alienation is apparent. The music, a blend of fractured electro breaks and squelchy, glitchy 4/4s, enhances this feeling of detachment.
“I’m not trying to be pessimistic but it feels like society, the family and the individual are fragmented and the modern world is all-intrusive. There’s no let up,” Wheeler asserts. “Your personal space becomes immensely important, whether it’s your bedroom, iPod or computer. The pressures of modern life are unbearable without some refuge to withdraw into for a while, even if it’s just a virtual world in a computer game.”
The musician points to Japan as an example of a society where the ancient and the hyper-moden co-exist in harmony.
“I spent three months there and still long to return. That’s why I try to reconnect memories of that time using Japanese Manga imagery in my artwork and by its computer technology in my music.”
For Martin, the country represents a sort of utopian future vision. Also, it’s got some really cool robots.
“Japan has its faults, but I’m attracted to its mix of tradition and futurism. They even have robots dispensing train tickets on the tube,” he laughs. “Occasionally, I’d prefer to deal with a real person in a uniform with personal problems and a boring, poorly paid job, but nine times out of 10, I’d choose to get my train ticket printed out by a pink-haired cyber stewardess. That’s what I call progress!”
Speaking of railways, the album’s defining track is the deeply melodic ‘City Lights From A Train’, which describes a passenger travelling alone through an unknown city. Wheeler agrees that it sums up the album’s mood and is inspired by the masters of electronic isolationism, Kraftwerk.
“Even their catchiest pop melodies can’t conceal the ultimate sense of loneliness in their music. They made the utilitarian seem romantic, and predicted a future where people are more attached to their computers than to each other, something that no longer seems far-fetched.”
Nonetheless, he doesn’t dwell entirely in electronic music’s past.
“I’m also influenced by modern labels like Human Shield, Toytronic, Touchin’ Bass and Ai Records. I did a gig with Andrea Parker (from Touchin’ Bass) last year in Brussels. We rode to the venue in a car full of strawberries. She sat on my lap in the back seat. It was quite pleasant until we got stuck in traffic and my bladder started to fill up with beer!”
In spite of Capsule For One's isolationist themes, Wheeler feels it's vital to maintain a human touch and this belief shapes the album’s other standout, ‘Melodies And Memories’.
“My daughter had been diagnosed autistic and I was devastated trying to come to terms with it," he explains. "I was up until dawn recording and when it was finished, I broke down in tears listening to it again and again.”