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fwd.dj (U.S.) | October 2008 | Noah Pred Interview

photo by svenfrenzel.com

articles

Beatportal (U.S.) | July 2008 | Top Track: Noah Pred 'Why Do'
Noah Pred is planning club nights in Toronto, and recently returned from Sonar in Spain to his home in Toronto.  But hot on the heels of this recent activity, Noah Pred has a release in which he does his own vocals where he asks the question, "Why do we do what we do?"  It lasts for nearly ten minutes, and it's a great track.  Full article here.

Beatportal (U.S.) | July 2008 | Thoughtless Music Brings Toronto Producers Together
This Friday, July 11th, an event called Get Thoughtless at CiRCA's SKYY Cinema Lounge will take place to celebrate the launch of 'Why Do' by Noah Pred.  Featuring four unique and accomplished producer-artists who are all on Thoughtless Music and other labels, this event is sure to get regular club-goers in Toronto exposed further to some heady and well-produced music.  Full article here.

Beatportal (U.S.) | June 2008 | Thoughtless Times with Noah Pred at MUTEK
This past weekend in Montreal, Canadian producer Noah Pred performed on the main stage at Metropolis during Mutek.  Full article here.

Uptown Magazine (Canada) | February 2008 | Techno meets ecology?
Noah Pred proves techno might be more organic than you thought.  Full article here.

Eye Weekly (Canada) | August 2007 | Noah Pred Nurtures a Sound World Built Out of Nature
“One of the things that really got me excited about producing electronic music was that it seemed quite apparent that the music was going to continue to evolve as long as the technology did. It was this whole new frontier to explore.”  Locally based techno artist Noah Pred – also known in downtempo circles as Shen – is talking past, present and future as we sit on a wee deck off of his third-floor bedroom studio. Over the past decade, the California-born musician swapped his know-how on piano, bass and guitar for a whole new set of skills as he taught himself to use drum machines, synthesizers, samplers and such. Full article here.

Torontoist (Canada) | August 2007 | Techno 2.0
Discussion about the evolving intersection of web 2.0 and the music industry tends to gravitate towards the repetition of cliched mantras which (re)announce the death of the major label and champion the democracy of social networking. While these market trends appear to be in full swing, the manner in which they play out in specific musical economies and subcultures varies greatly. Since electronic music is so tied to technology, it makes sense that independent labels and artists in this field would serve as a good barometer for the market shifts that are transforming the entire industry from the (under)ground up. Torontoist has sought out the perspective of two artists working within the local electronic music scene to chat about their experience with social media and new-school digital distribution. Full article here.

Now Magazine (Canada) | March 2007 | Slo-mo Shen beats: Canuck DJ/producer Noah Pred does it downtempo-style
Downtempo electronic music doesn't get quite the same attention it did during the era of raves and chill-out rooms, but that doesn't mean there's no room for it at the party any more. As Noah Pred (aka Shen) explains, slow tempos don't always require you to sink into a couch to appreciate them. Full article here.

Toronto Star (Canada) | January 2007 | Big Moves Put Intimate Edge on Techno
"Toronto's techno scene is a friendly one, but can also be dauntingly insular for the new kid in town trying to break in. Fortunately for Vancouver-bred DJ/producer Noah Pred, his talents and resumé are such that he was all but begged to make the move here last year when the West Coast's tiny techno underground grew stifling." Full article here.

XLR8R (U.S.) | February 2006 | Techno Guest Reviews
Next to Germany, Canada has the world's most vibrant young techno community. Its celebrity producers (Richie Hawtin, Mathew Jonson, Akufen) are now known far and wide, but a crop of the country's lesser-hyped beatmakers have also been incredibly prolific over the past few years. Count among them Noah Pred, the Toronto-based DJ and live artist whose swelling catalog of releases for Metapath, Consigned and Saboteur number more than two dozen. Pred's textured sound - built on a groundwork of warm, vibrant synths, alien percussion and carefully manipulated effects - recalls Luomo's lush tech house, Sutekh's eerie minimalism and Cari Lekebusch's prominent, layered rhythms. Currently Pred runs both the Metapath and Sentient Sound labels and he's recently performed at the New Forms (Vancouver) and Decibel (Seattle) festivals. With projects including separate downtempo and hip-hop/electro albums in the works, we asked Mr. Pred to give us the lowdown on his hottest wax...

Exclaim! (Canada) | October 2005 | Rhythms West
Amongst the mountains and lakes of the West coast one will find, in urban pockets and backwoods cabins, some of Canada's most innovative dance music producers. Now that both the means of production and access to the web are portable, they've come for the inspiration only nature can provide, and the world is listening. Full article here.

Georgia Straight Weekly (Canada) | November 2004 | Local Boy Heads Home
In 2001, Vancouver's Noah Pred decamped for Montreal in search of greener pastures. At the time of his departure, the DJ-producer was fed up with the lack of support for techno on the West Coast, but after three fruitful years in Quebec, Pred has moved back to B.C., where the scene is now bubbling over with talent. From his home on the Sunshine Coast, the technoist will soon launch two new labels, adding weight to the claim that our province has become Canada's new hotbed for electronic music. Of his two imprints, says Pred, Sentient Sound will lean toward the cerebral end of the 4/4 spectrum, while Metapath's releases will be aimed squarely at the peak-hour dance floor. According to the producer--who hosts a launch party for SS's first 12-inch next Thursday (November 25) at Lick--the labels have licensed releases by a slew of international artists, but he hopes eventually to focus on the growing community of local stalwarts. "It was always my goal to come back to B.C.," he told the Straight. "To see the stuff that's being produced by people out here is inspiring. It's an exciting time."

digital reviews

DJ Times (U.S.) - June 2009 | Noah Pred - TLM023 | N/R
From the moody, melancholy vibe of “Cousins” to the retro flavor of “Hidden Light,” from the gorgeous deepness of “Pitfalls” to the analog madness of “Accord,” this full-length from label boss Pred is solid all the way through.

Exclaim! (Canada) - June 2009 | Noah Pred - TLM023 | N/R
It's the return of unadulterated bang-bang and groove with the poster boy of intelligent techno. Noah Pred's third release, after his down-tempo excursion as Shen, returns to his traditional techno roots. The 4/4 bedrock of Blind Alignments benefits from tech house sensibilities and an inherent funk, which lighten the solid but never incessant drive. Pred stays true to form here. The production is crispy clean, sometimes a little too much so, and the kick drum from start to finish makes for the throbbing cornerstone of every track. In fact, Blind Alignments on a track-by-track basis is guaranteed to keep the club dance floor humming. But as a full-length it holds no real surprises, the inclusion of which could have given it a slightly more intriguing edge. Nonetheless, Pred continues to demonstrate his talent at producing reliably smart techno.

Textura (Canada) - January 2008 | Repair - TLM005 / Noah Pred - TLM006 | N/R
With more than a decade of electronic music-making under their belts, it's no surprise that the latest material by the Toronto-based Thibideau brothers sounds polished. This five-tracker for Thoughtless pairs two sleek originals with remixes by Cologne residents Falko Brocksieper and René Breitbarth and Torontonian Noah Pred. The originals, “The Model B Chassis” and “Still Standing Severely Damaged,” are dynamic, driving cuts that exude that elegant and vibrant Motor City vibe, with both animated by burbling tech-house grooves and punctuated by synth washes, slamming snares, and swinging hi-hats.

Breitbarth gives “Still Standing Severely Damaged” a slinky, late-night house makeover while Brocksieper turns “The Model B Chassis” into an ultra-grooving, acid-tinged stormer that's sick in the best sense of the word. As strong as they are, Pred's version is indubitably the EP's peak moment. In his hands, “The Model B Chassis” becomes an incessantly chattering and irresistibly funky dynamo—nine minutes of sheer genius. If there's any justice, Pred's track deserves to be incinerating dance floors everywhere.

Speaking of which, Lost In Pockets presents an immaculate set of fresh Pred material with a remix from Dumb-Unit founder Jeremy P. Caulfield sweetening the deal. Swinging funk rhythms, intricate melodic patterns, and twisted synth flares help turn “Far From Lost” into a slinky tech-house monster. Staccato flourishes ping over grooving late-night house pulses in “Get Cozy” as a slurred male voice murmurs the title chant into your ear. Pred hauls out the heavy bass artillery for the bubbly, synth-drenched swing of “Hot Pockets” after which Caulfield's “Swzlstk” remix lassoes the groove and tightens it into a mechano strut. Anything but hastily thrown together, Pred's compositions are maximal marvels of construction that, at the same time, never sound over-worked.

photo by svenfrenzel.com

12-inch reviews

Kick Magazine (Canada) - August 2005 | Noah Pred / Avatar EP / Robb Audio | N/R
Yet again, Vancouver-based Noah Pred proves why he is one of the most talented young producers in electronic music today.  Deep, subtle, lush and full of Detroit flavored undertones, this is an EP perfect for a long, introspective drive or the mind-clearing section of a late night party set.  Showing his depth of talent, Noah once again proves he can rock us in oh-so-many ways.

DJ Times (U.S.) - April 2005 | Noah Pred + HD Substance / Riding Through EP / Metapath Recordings | N/R
For the second installment in the collaboration themed Metapath series, label boss Noah Pred teams up with Spanish Techno master, HD Substance.  The original mix of 'Decision Time' is up first, with Noah Pred showing why he is one of the most in-demand young producers on the scene.  Layering funky beats, lush keys and a massive, driving bassline, Pred rocks it from the word go.  HD Substance takes his crack at the same track next, bringing us a subtle, lush, Detroit styled groove.  'Estado Nervioso' is the flip-side track, and the original rears its head in classic Atlas Records style, with HD layering funky percussion and rich synth stabs with mind-blowing results.  The EP concludes with Noah Pred on remix duties, adding a more funked up, hard-edged tech-house version.  Four brilliant tracks from two of my favorite people in the techno world.  Great work boys.

Upfront (U.K.) - November 2004 | Noah Pred + Mateo Murphy / Initiation EP / Metapath Recordings | N/R
Metapath is a brand new, collaboration themed imprint from Canadian producer extraordinaire, Noah Pred.  For this inaugural release, Noah teams up with Montreal’s Mateo Murphy for four exceptional tracks.  Side A begins with Noah’s remix of Murphy’s track 'Induction.'  Starting off as a groovy techno/house jam with slow building drums and a killer funky bassline, Pred breaks it all down, adds a kick-ass breakbeat and finishes up with a ton of flavor and style.  Unreal way to break up a 4/4 set or smoothly transition from tech-house to breaks.  Next up is the original version of 'Induction', a smooth, slow rising tech-house smoker, complete with silky, old school keys, moving beats and an evil, growing bassline.  Superb track for taking up a tech-house set or slowly starting a build towards techno. The flip side features Mateo Muphy on remix duties, taking on Pred’s 'Entry' with remarkable results.  Starting from a simple drum pattern and deep bassline, Murphy builds and builds hypnotic keys on top of rising percussion, as the track climbs and bubbles towards a killer climax.  The EP wraps up with Noah Pred’s original version of 'Entry', a deep, sexy, late night techno gem.  An unreal debut from two of the most gifted producers on the techno scene.

DJ Times (U.S.) - August 2004 | Noah Pred / Sanctum EP / Saboteur Musique | 4/5
Everywhere I look lately, I see the name Noah Pred.   From glitchy micro-house to groovy tech-house and funky techno, he is one of the most in demand and on-the-mark producers in the world at the moment.   For this project, he teams up with outstanding Montreal-based Saboteur Musique, and drops an astonishing 4-track EP.   The disc kicks off with 'Sanctum', a slow, bubbling tech-house jaunt, complete with innate, murky keys, crafty percussion and a pervasive, eerie feel throughout.   'Loose Terrain' is up next, with forward moving, tribal influenced drums, atmospheric synth lines and gradual building energy.   The B-Side features 'Fatal Exception', a solid, funky tech-house rhythm track with tough drums, vocal stabs and cyclic keyboard riffs; a perfect track for beginning the ascent from smooth beats towards harder, more driving material.   'Inward Bound' completes the package with lush pads, sexy bassline, vocoded vocal stabs and funky beats that come together and make this an incredible slab of late-night goodness.

Kick Magazine (Canada) - July 2004 | Noah Pred / Mutuality EP / Azure Records | 7.5/10
Vancouver-to-Montreal transplant Noah Pred treats us to some new material with 'Mutuality' on the always enjoyable Azure label. The original mix employs some tight percussion and fading synths to maintain a steady vibe throughout. Virulent takes things up a notch with his bubbling, house-flavoured remix, while Adam Jay gives the tune a dark and moody reworking. The excellent 'Holding Pace' rounds out this 12-inch with some simple but effective percussion patterns and a kick drum that doesn't let up.

DJ Times (U.S.) - July 2004 | Noah Pred / Mutuality EP / Azure Records | 4/5
Another extraordinary release from ever-dependable Azure Records.   Montreal-based man of the moment Noah Pred drops two outstanding slices of his signature, smooth, soulful techno flavor including the title cut and 'Holding Pace', a rich, lush jaunt that grows and grows as it slowly rips it up.   Label boss Adam Jay adds his take on the title cut, taking things to deeper, more tripped out space and infusing a ton of late night subtlety. The true stand-out here however, comes from Indianapolis based Virulent, who contributes an absolutely gorgeous slice of old school style techno. Hotness.

BPM Culture (U.S.) - June 2004 | Noah Pred / Mutuality EP / Azure | N/R
Montreal's chord wizard introduces a bit of his Canadian groove to Indiana with the installation of this club thriller. Lightly seasoned with docile percussion, the energy builds as the lead stab tickles the palate. Virulent and Adam Jay contribute remixes, adding more peak flavor and driving drums.

DJ Magazine (U.K.) - January 2004 | Noah Pred / Navigation EP / Subconscious Elements | 4/5
The second release on Vince Watson's new label sees West Coast producer Noah Pred deliver four great dancefloor cuts.   Like DJ Garth jamming with Fabrice Lig, all four cuts feature rolling rhythms, dubby FX and reverb - as well as sweet electronic chords and tight metallic percussion.   From the insistent 'Prime Meridian' to the trippy vibes on 'Destination' to the building climax of 'Lost Coordinates', the beauty of Pred's work is that it sounds as good in the car and at home as it does on a club sound system.

XLR8R (U.S.) - January 2004 | Noah Pred / Solitary Life EP / Intrinsic Design | N/R
Hailing from Montreal, Noah Pred's latest addition is a tribal tech-house wonder.   On the A-side you have the hard yet pretty 'One Track Mind', a deep, moody track with chunky bass, soft pads and filtered highs.   On the flipside, you have two deliciously deep, driving tracks with solid chords and heavy basslines.   Anyone can tell Pred is blazing a new trail for tech-house lovers far and wide.   A must-listen.

XLR8R (U.S.) - November 2003 | V/A / EP2 / Pacific Technics | N/R
This is the second EP culled from Noah Pred's Pacific Technics comp, which benefits Amnesty International.   Mateo Murphy of Turbo fame opens things up with a track that resounds in a deep chord minimal spirit, after which Marky Star takes you to the dancefloor with grinding basslines and sharp synth stabs.   Pred himself brings a dancefloor monster, which I've personally bumped from coast to coast.   All in all, pure dancefloor brilliance on both sides for a great cause.   Support!!

De:bug (Germany) - November 2003 | V/A / EP2 / Pacific Technics | N/R
This series of EPs as well as a mix-CD of unreleased tracks are the work of Noah Pred, and all proceeds from sales go to benefit Amnesty International. The second of the series features a smooth tech-housey track, 'Deep Thoughts', by Mateo Murphy, which rocks deeply of course thanks to some plush dub effects. Marky Star's 'I Love Your Money' is a harder, more pulsating groover, and Noah Pred's 'Refuge' is a dub-house classic with a solid bassline and a groove strong enought to correct your posture. Finishing things up on this release, Preach delivers a somewhat curious blend of tech-house percussion and full-blown techno.

Lotus Magazine (U.S.) - January 2003 | Primordial Nature / Evergreen EP / Consigned | 4.5/5
Primordial Nature (a.k.a. DJ Noah Pred) has created two wonderfully organic, funky techno tracks, which will be the third offering on Consigned, the new sub-label of Default. Both tracks are grounded in thick, funky basslines and boast refreshingly unique tones throughout.   They are, nevertheless, very distinct. 'Eucalyptus' is a sonically full, dubby workout with inventive changes in the kickdrum pattern and some of the coolest sounding klangy percussion I've heard. 'Arbutus' is groovier but still has a heady quality with it's stylish, bubbly melody (check out how PN tweaks this mid-way through!) awash in swirling synth stabs and energetic transitions where the cymbals come happily crashing all around. A great release from Consigned and two very original techno-funk gems from Primordial Nature.

DJ Magazine (U.K.) - January 2003 | Primordial Nature / Evergreen EP / Consigned   | 4/5
Noah Pred's new release for Consigned doesn't have the same understated linear sound as his previous release, but what it lacks in minimal subtlety it more than compensates for with its dancefloor appeal. 'Arbutus' and 'Eucalyptus' feature skipping, dense dubby beats, trippy riffs and whiplash percussion, a combination that veers just on the right side of techno claustrophobia. Even if these tracks sound too busy, then fear not as Pred has also included four 'Evergreen' locked grooves that revert to his more laidback sound.

IDJ Magazine (U.K.) - November 2002 | Noah Pred / Never is a Next Time EP / Consigned | 4/5
An EP of lushly-produced tech-house from Vancouver's Noah Pred. The title track makes use of an emphatic bassline and ethereal effects to create a densely layered dancefloor gem. 'Internal Circuitry' is distinguished by fizzing high-hats, off kilter keyboard stabs and a punchy rhythmic attack, while 'Nothing to Hide' ups the pace with relentlessly-pulsing bass and subtle washes of colour.
  
Seven Update (U.K.) - October 2002 | Noah Pred / Never is a Next Time EP / Consigned | 5/5
Canadian DJ Noah Pred is a man with a passion for basslines: big, bad throbbing fuckers which take the wheel and steer a lovely blend of techno and house into early-hours heaven. Smouldering riff fragments collide with spacey whooshes on three excellent tracks which climax with the peak-time charge of 'Nothing to Hide.'  - "Essential Techno Tune of the Month"

DJ Magazine (U.K.) - October 2002 | Noah Pred / Never is a Next Time EP / Consigned | 4/5
Canadian producer Noah Pred opts for a daring direction for this debut release on Consigned. Taking inspiration from the German glitch ethic as well as Maurizio's school of electronic dub, the three tracks here feature dissected and re-constructed metallic percussion, bass powered rhythms and the kind of tripped FX you'd normally associate with a Jamaican sound clash. Music for the mind as well as the body.  

compact disc reviews

Exclaim! (Canada) | SHEN - Outlines Native State/US/CD | N/R
Shen is a Taoist term for refined energy or depth, and it’s befitting of the down-tempo alter-ego of Canadian techno maestro Noah Pred. Offering enough of a percussive discourse over the psy-flavoured ambiance to provoke a few dance moves within Outlines’ down-tempo direction, Pred masterfully renders a sense of aural spaciousness from a clean juxtaposition of solid, well-crafted rhythms. A perfect marriage of Native State’s characteristic digital gloss and Pred’s hard and lush bass lines, there is a melodic sexiness to the entire album that’s best exemplified by the smooth drive of “Cold Bones” and submerged hip-hop flavours of “Causation” and “Symbol Range.” At just the right moments Pred layers his digitised soundscapes with vibrating chords, humming subs, record stutters and analogue samples. With his feet not fully off the techno train, even while in down-tempo, Pred does occasionally get lost in the loop (i.e., “Crater Lake”). More often than not though, Outlines consistently grinds out a premium digital groove that’s on the cusp of listener-friendly originality and dance floor functionality.

Tribe Magazine (Canada) | CD1 Pacific Technics/US/CD | N/R
Reinvigorating the notion of techno as a musical force for positive change, Montreal's Noah Pred lays down a pattern of ticking and clicking mechanical soul.  The 13 tracks oscillate in waves of irresistible electronic rhythms, channeling dancefloor energies into a listening environment.  The ardent techno gives way to breezy, stratospheric tech-house about three quarters of the way through the mix.  Noah deftly blends the genres, weaving and combining the tracks as if they had been produced with this particular tracklisting in mind. Mike Shannon's 'Shogun' stands out with his patented sound of submerged melodic sequences - a dripping digital deluge.  Political Content Watch Four: This is the first in a series of CDs mixed by 'global techno artists united for world peace.'  The text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is printed on the inside of the CD cover, along with choice quotes from Martin Luther King Jr., Camus, Spinoza, Bertrand Russell, Sartre, and Benjamin Franklin, among others.

Exclaim! (Canada) | CD1 Pacific Technics/US/CD | N/R
Originally from Vancouver and now a resident of Montreal, Noah Pred comes with a mix of classy, persistent techno that employs both melody and varying degrees of thump to create a couth collection.   As each track morphs into and emerges from one another the differences stand out without being jarring, demonstrating Pred's skill in spotting the elements that, when juxtaposed, have the right balance of tension and fluidity to keep the ball rolling.   With a pinch of dub and a touch of house accenting the tech, Pred's done a good thing - and not only in audio, as all the proceeds from the comp will go to Amnesty International.

Kick Magazine (Canada) | CD1 Pacific Technics/US/CD | N/R
This mix CD was started with the hopes of highlighting Canadian talent and great techno music, and for the good cause of donating a percentage of the proceeds to Amnesty International. Noah Pred, Vancouver DJ and producer mixes seamlessly this pure techno goodness that is always pleasing to the ears. Highlights of the mix for me were Adam Jay's "Half Past Midnight," which is intense and rocking; HD Substance's hypnotic and groovy "Air Transfer"; Noah Pred's own "Refuge," which is sweeping, calming and includes a wonderful distorted vocal; Asad Rizvi's "Collateral Aid," a nice dub techno track, followed nicely by Mateo Murphy's "Deep Thoughts," which is also in the dub vein, and very heavy and melodic with distorted vocals. Mike Shannon's "Shogun" is a nice mellower track adding to the overall aesthetics of the mix as an eclectic and energizing selection. To end off, Noah Pred's "Pacificism" is wonderfully serene and thematically brilliant.

Hour Weekly (Canada) | CD1 Pacific Technics/US/CD | 4/5
Local tek-house philanthropist Pred lays out the entire Pacific Technics catalogue, plus an unreleased gem of his own, on this deep, textured journey through the genre's best.   Includes stand-out tracks by St. Louis native Marky Star (I Love Your Money), Tokyo's Rennie Foster (Pavilion), and the U.K.'s Asad Rizvi (Collateral Aid), alongside contributions by all-stars Tim Xavier, Adam Jay and HD Substance, and equally reputable local purveyors Yaz & Miko, Mateo Murphy, Preach and Mike Shannon.   Heady and abstract, the mix is accessible enough to appeal to fans of, say Sasha & Digweed, as easily as it will to lovers of the exploding minimal house sound.   And it's for a good cause.

Mirror Weekly (Canada) | CD1 Pacific Technics/US/CD | 8/10
With all of the proceeds going to Amnesty International, Montreal-based DJ Noah Pred's latest mix could be the 2004 answer to "Tears Are Not Enough" (except without that creepy Paul Schaeffer guy). An interesting twist if you consider that techno is arguably the most apolitical music out there. But the beauty of this disc lies in the subtlety. From the banging, progressive openers by Tim Xavier and Montreal's Preach to the spacey Adam Jay track, the elastic chug of Canada's Rennie Foster and a dose of familiar minimal artists like Mike Shannon, Mateo Murphy and of course Pred himself, this disc has something for every four-to-the-floor tech-head out there.