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digital reviews
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.
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.
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."
interviews
Eye Weekly (Canada) | December 2006 | DJ Spotlight
Urbnet (Canada) | April 2006 | Electronic Exclusive
Beyond Robson (Canada) | November 2005 | DJs Make the World Go Round