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Low Res

Low Res, the most well-known project of composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Zelonky, has evolved from alien electronic abstractions to exquisitely arranged orchestral soul-jazz. First appearing in 1995 with the experimental techno EP Thorn, Low Res made its full-length debut with 1998's glitchy Approximate Love Boat (Mistaken Alien Interpretations of Earth Music), then incorporated more jazz elements on 2002's Blue Ramen. Zelonky's work became more composed and organic, and after establishing his studio, National Recording, he began to explore jazz, funk, and soul influences on releases like the 2022 LP Marvin Gaye's Trouble Man, as well as material under the name Suite Crude Revue. Zelonky has an extensive history as a producer, engineer, and musician dating back to the '70s. Originally from Milwaukee, he played in punk bands before he moved to New York and recorded sessions by Misfits, Bad Brains, the Mad, and others. By the mid-'90s, he began making solo electronic music as Low Res. An EP titled Thorn appeared on Tokyo's Sublime Records in 1995. The album's most danceable track, "Amuck," became a club hit, and Detroit techno godfather Juan Atkins remixed the tune on an EP for his Metroplex label in 1996. The Low Res track "Multiratio" appeared on the 1997 compilation Plug Research & Development, and one of Plug Research's first full-length releases was Low Res' self-explanatory Approximate Love Boat (Mistaken Alien Interpretations of Earth Music) (1998). Two albums of further abstractions, Wanton Phenomena and Heftibag, were recorded under the pseudonym Crank and released by Mille Plateaux in 1999. Additionally, Low Res contributed to 1999 releases by Atkins' Model 500 (Mind and Body) and Thomas Fehlmann of the Orb (One to Three. Overflow; Ninenine/nd). The second Low Res album, Blue Ramen, appeared in 2002, and sported a much jazzier sound than its predecessor, though it remained highly experimental. A series of six jukebox 45s were released by Aim-records in 2003, featuring alternate and original versions of tracks which appeared on the first two Low Res albums, as well as additional material including a cover of the jazz standard "Caravan." In 2003, Zelonky composed the 30-minute commissioned piece "Idiot" for the Institute of Psychoacoustic and Electronic Music in Ghent, Belgium. He also adapted and conducted a performance of Marvin Gaye's Trouble Man soundtrack with a 36-piece orchestra. In 2007, Low Res released Look Back with Knife, a digital collection of rarities, live tracks, and unreleased material dating back to 1994. Another digital release, 15 Exitos Grandes de Electro, compiled material from several of Zelonky's pseudonyms, including the lesser-known Joey Mook and Lester Pride. He also launched Suite Crude Revue with the full-length Suite Crude: Space Age Gutbucket Afrodelic Jazzploitation, which included an interpretation of the Sun Ra piece "Intergalactic Research." Zelonky established the Milwaukee-based studio National Recording in 2008. The studio has recorded music for television, film, and sound libraries, and has worked with an extensive roster of musicians including George Clinton, Bernie Worrell, Delfeayo and Ellis Marsalis, and Kings Go Forth. Zelonky's label, S'plat Records, released the single "Element of Love" b/w "I'm Thirsty," sung by Gervis Myles, in 2018. In 2022, the label issued an LP of Low Res' adaptation of Marvin Gaye's Trouble Man, featuring vocals by Kings Go Forth's Blackwolf, as well as a rendition of Zelonky's composition "Chalky." Suite Crude Revue's 45 "Cowpoke Detox" b/w "Blue Ramen #1" appeared in 2023.
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Discography

13 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller

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