Back To Mine With SPHR

SPHR (pronounced “sphere”) are redefining live melodic techno with a transcontinental twist. The duo, composed of Berlin-based producer and label owner Ornery and Sydney/Eora-based live performer and modular synth artist Burnside fuse two hemispheres of sound into one immersive performance experience. A year since epically melodic single ‘Dome & Light’ they return with ’Reflections’, a driving yet hypnotic journey anchored on a punchy bass rhythm. As they share a playlist of tracks that have inspired their live performance philosophy as well as their sound, DMCWorld goes back to mine with SPHR.

Bicep – Apricots
Ornery: There were at least 10 (if not more…) Bicep tracks I could’ve put here. I’m gonna go with the super-classic, but always emotional, “Apricots”. Loopy stutter vocals, atmospheric trancey-influenced breakbeat that becomes a techno weapon in the live version. Quintessential Bicep.

No Mono – Butterflies
Burnside: Where were you the last time a new piece of music completely took your breath away? I remember walking to work a few years ago when ‘Butterflies’ popped up in my new releases playlist and stopped me dead in my tracks. I had to stand still on the corner of Broadway and Harris St in Sydney til it finished, then hit repeat and listen to it all over again (I was late to work, but it was worth it!). The beautiful simplicity of pulsating chords (is this the most perfect use of a LFO?) and Tom Iansek’s haunting vocals floor me every time I hear this.

Pryda – Axis
Ornery: “If You Know, You Know” kind of track by the master himself, Eric Prydz. Pure progressive bliss that never ceases to amaze me. Every single element is perfectly combined. Works as an opener, peak, as a closer, as well as a home listen, if you’re into the genre. Timeless.

Âme – No War (Ry X Remix)
Burnside: The chord progression to ‘No War’ is just iconic – classic, melodic Âme vibes, and the extra groovy percussion Ry X has layered on in this remix makes it the definitive version of the track for me. Howling (Ry’s collaboration with Âme’s Frank Widemann) was my gateway drug into the Berlin house & techno scene. I have a soft spot for every track they’ve collaborated on, but this is the one I keep coming back to.

Moderat – Running (Âme Remix)
Ornery: Apparat & Modeselektor + Âme. This one has that late-night, slightly nostalgic feeling that just hits perfectly every single time. Smooth, emotional, and always a guaranteed vibe, the kind of track that instantly pulls everyone into the same mood without saying a word. Berlin Elite in the house.

Nine Inch Nails – Beside You in Time (Live)
Burnside: NIN are my biggest influence when it comes to live performance (how can you take a bunch of synthesizers and make things look, feel, and sometimes sound like a punk rock gig?) The studio version of this track squeezes so much character out of a single synth drone, but live, with drums and guitars thrown into the mix, it just takes on a whole new energy and edge. Not to mention that this performance is a masterclass of what’s possible when combining live performance and visuals (even if it is almost 20 years old!)

Recondite – Levo
Ornery: Distant and deeply personal at the same time. Minimal but haunting, and so easy to get lost in. It could soundtrack a movie or your long Sunday run – it creates its own atmosphere the moment it starts. Quiet masterpiece from the master of restraint.

David Bowie – Let’s Dance
Burnside: Bowie is god, the rest of us are mere mortals. I don’t know what more to say. Take Bowie’s genius, add Nile Rodgers’ disco polish and a Stevie Ray Vaughan guitar solo, and you’ve got an instant classic. The video is also iconic, as one of the first pieces of cinema with a global reach to star two indigenous Australians. It also has some early 80’s shots of Sydney’s Broadway (including the street corner where I stood listening to ‘Butterflies’ :D).

Pan-Pot – Sleepless (Stephan Bodzin Remix)
Ornery: Technically a remix, practically a Bodzin original. Chills to my spine every single time – that signature synth just feels alive. “Melodic techno” from 2050… or 2015. Raw beauty, futuristic and timeless at once. A track that reminds you why Bodzin is Bodzin.

Jimi Jules – My City’s On Fire
Burnside: This is another track that just gets me every time. When producing I often forget to keep things simple, but this is a reminder of how magical simplicity can be: a drum loop, one synth line and Jimi’s vocal is all it needs to be an absolute banger.

 

Check the SPHR Back To Mine playlist on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Tr6EXjNJK5kHq1DpDCUpG