UK techno imprint Frozen Border have just started a new sub-label, entitled Horizontal Ground.
Almost nothing is known about the people either running or producing for the label, but we managed to coax a brief interview out of the man behind the mysterious e-mail address printed on all of the Frozen Border vinyl releases so far. Our full correspondence is printed below, where we are informed that Horizontal Ground will be a label for artists whom they admire "from a distance." With the new discovery that Frozen Border is a "collective" based in the UK, this seems to suggest that Horizontal Ground is a place for established techno artists to revel in the anonymity that the imprint affords them. The first in the series follows in the footsteps of Frozen Border's reductionist techno, and seems to take influence from both Detroit and Berlin across its two tracks (samples can be found over at the Hard Wax site). Consciously choosing not to reveal his name, here is our full interview with the elusive person behind frozenborder69 @ googlemail.com.Is it going to be yourself releasing on Horizontal Ground?
It's open, as is Frozen Border. We have had a few different artists involved up to this point.
How many producers have been featured so far?
Three.
How does Horizontal Ground differ from Frozen Border?
We admire the artist(s) on Horizontal Ground from a distance.
Were there any specific reasons behind your anonymity?
Well it's more of a collective really, so we present it this way out of a shared responsibility.
You say that Frozen Border is a collective. Does each individual have their own twelve, or do you mix and match the tracks? Or is it the case that the tracks are produced together?
Each producer has his or her own twelve-inch release.
Your records seem to take a lot from the older school of techno music. Do you think that the genre has more room to advance, or is it just a case of refining a template that has proved successful?
I really absorbed a lot from techno from that period (1990-96) so it's basic memetics, I guess. I think there is always room to keep honing your art - I should imagine that allows for advancement.
Who would you say are your main influences as far as your productions are concerned?
The artists that have influenced me most are... Dan Bell, Robert Hood, Basic Channel, Substance, Various Artists, Downwards, Nexus 21/Mark Archer, LFO, Robert Gordon, Peter Ford, Joey Beltram and Sleeparchive.
Is Frozen Border your first venture into music production?
Yes, so it's all still really fresh with loads to adjust to and learn.
Do you DJ or perform live at all?
A combination of both really.
Is there anyone in particular that you’d like to get involved in the Horizontal Ground project?
I think that's something you can only judge when the right situation presents itself. I think for the moment there is enough potential within the current framework to keep us busy.