Deconstruction: LFO - 'LFO' w/ Chris Martin

[@pointblankmusicschool]

What's your favourite classic rave tune?

[@rjbush7955]

sweet harmony

[@djscottfrenzy]

Outlander Vamp!

[@matstevens3756]

Shades of Rhythm - Sweet Sensation

[@chickenlips74]

Prodigy's Everybody In The Place, and LFO's LFO, of course

[@tomdavies6368]

@@rjbush7955 Agree.

[@metube2907]

The music video for LFO 'LFO' was actually made by John Foxx, the former Ultravox singer and electronic music pioneer (if you havent heard of him, you'll want to research him, he really was a trailblazer). He was a teacher, I think at a Manchester college and got his students to produce it while he directed it. On the Warp Vision: the Videos 1989 - 2004 the director is listed as 'unknown' but it definitely was John foxx and his students.

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing that bit of knowledge!

[@marcusrafferty7638]

Jarvis Cocker directed that video.

[@metube2907]

@@marcusrafferty7638 There seems to be conflicting information out there. Jarvis is mentioned in an interview as directing it and is credited in a few places. But John Foxx is credited on imdb and on his wikipedia and John F (real name Dennis) was one of my tutors and he told us directly that it was him and his students. They do know each other as Jarvis has interviewed him, so my guess is that Jarvis was one of the students or somewhat involved and maybe both had directing credits.

[@marcusrafferty7638]

@@metube2907 yeah, they were both involved. Look at the early warp videos for Tricky Disco and Aphex (On). Both Jarvis Cocker related too .

[@djneils100]

wow I never knew this - loved John Foxx as a kid in the 80s - used to listen to his album (the one with underpass on) on my paperround

[@woooster17]

Man…memories! I used to play this on repeat in my Ford Escort RS Turbo.. I had a 1000w amp & 2 15” sub woofers in the boot.. Cruising Petersfield town centre in the mid 1990s..LFO pumping! 😂 Nice work! 👏🏼😎

[@snubbyy]

big up everyone from Petersfield

[@bobgees793]

@woooster17 those were the days. I loved those cars back then. I had a 16v GTE with a single 15" JL Audio sub. The twins in yours must've sounded (and felt) epic

[@Landshark928]

Yeahhh🎉 that is epic! Played on my Sanyo walkman in 1990, feeling so much like a teenager from future 😂

[@russ8889]

The Leeds warehouse mix was pure bass ,test any speakers or headphones I buy with this track........a true classic of a tune Mark Bell was a top man R.I.P

[@billB101]

I actually heard it in Leeds warehouse, it definitely worked ;)

[@russ8889]

Nice I shook walls playing that track

[@Hotdogjackson]

My favorite version :)

[@frankieatjumbleend4867]

Same here 😊

[@steveplatt2068]

Yeh it’s phenomenal even to this day

[@danxnation2159]

the beat in LFO was sampled from a Simon Harris sample CD

[@officialsimonharris]

That showed he has great taste

[@steveplatt2068]

Great tutorial for one of my favourite tracks ever ❤

[@bongofury3176]

LFO - this tune takes me back to Newquay 1990. I have worshipped it ever since...makes me tingle to hear it...

[@sram993]

Bloody amazing. Thanks for making this. For me it highlights how such a standout track can be made up from such simple components, but knowing how to put those components together in a musical way is key!

[@trevor_mounts_music]

Oh man that Kawaii plugin sounds SO good and totally free. Good looking out. Like the M1s cousin from out of town.

[@Lyve1981]

Thanks a lot for the K1v showcase. And your recreation is spot-on! 👍

[@Jonny_Does_Breaks]

This was not a vst I had seen before. Been having a play. Great work.

[@OliFreke]

I had no idea the chords were that preset - great find. Plus I'll be grabbling that K1 plugin (even though I actually have a real K4 leaning against the wall!)

[@dragon-id5uj]

wow its nils! thank you so much! legend!

[@AutPen38]

It's one of the best free plug-ins. Nice work, Nils!

[@popscratchie3985]

This is an excellent way to teach. Keep these classic tune breakdowns coming. I have to say the way he did his voice saying “LFO” gets over the idea he’s portraying but nothing sounds as good as the speak and spell.

[@C20XEMini]

FREAKING AWSOME!!! I’ve waited 31 years for this!!

[@weedaviec]

Enjoyed that. I was 16 when they wrote this in 1989. It hasn't aged at all. Incredible classic tune. Up there with 'Energy Flash' by Joey Beltram.

[@mylarmelodies]

This is absolutely fantastic work, and such an important/brilliant tune that is still as killer as the day it was written - I bought a K1m just to experience that preset being played first hand on the real hardware!!

[@Adam-ed5pk]

Laser-bass legend Chris Martin back at it again with the informative and engaging deconstruction masterclass!

[@themanfromvolantis]

Aghast. I'm gobsmacked by this. How did you even begin to have such incredible knowledge? When I was about 16 my folks bought me a Yamaha PSS 680. I took it to a party and me and my mate spent about an hour figuring out how to play "7 Ways To Love" by Cola Boy. Then this lad came over and asked if he could have a go. He proceeded to play a perfect "Van Der Velk" theme tune. I realised I would never be able to play like that and the keyboard gathered dust in a cupboard from that day and I got a bank loan and got some 1210s and a mixer. 18 months ago, I bought an app called "Caustic". I opened it up, flicked through the screens and became overwhelmed. I havent opened it since. I see videos like yours and I realise that super humans do exist.

[@MastersOfHouse]

I like it, 8 Polyphony limitation of the Casio sampler had lot to do with the laser arrangement with the bass etc which is not a problem with modern gear now will share this with my daughter now in her 30s its was her speak and spell will follow your channel .

[@palaHD]

mate thanks for this track,what a huge part of back in the day it is

[@marcusrafferty7638]

respect to you Martin for being such a forward thinking and positive force back then!

[@marcusrafferty7638]

please reform LFO with @LFO Gez Varley!

[@MastersOfHouse]

@@marcusrafferty7638 thanks mate retired old man now still DJing crazy beats just for fun @ Angelicas Leeds this Friday and Saturday 5-6 hours so go thru the history and there is new generation of kids who still love cool house music feel blessed.

[@scart_records]

@@MastersOfHouse happy to hear you still rocking it, even into your ‘retirement’ 👊🔥✨🫠

[@matti_j]

Back when this was released, my local record store sorted this under "Bass & Bleeps", a short lived sub genre name.

[@hearmenow909]

I think 'Bleep' was the correct sub-genre name back in the day, mostly associated with the early 90s Warp sound, Nightmare On Wax - Dextrous etc.

[@Bantam80]

What a tune! Love the K1 too. I still have mine!

[@mcbain23]

Despite the titular LFO being the focus, it's that K1 string riff that really defines the feel of the tune for me. Ethereal!

[@peaceLove1988]

Remember a dj playing this tune on a pirate radio station and doing a brilliant scratch on it. Absolutely brilliant.

[@SpikeColgate]

Timeless classic. Still remember first hearing this and being blown away.. RIP Mark Bell..

[@172Break]

I remember seeing the Network and Warp records tour in Glagow in 1990 with LFO, Nexus 21, Nightmares on Wax and Rhythmatic. A few months later, Nexus 21 became Alter8 and blew up the charts!

[@floydfranklin8881]

This is the best deconstruction / recreation I’ve seen. Fair play! Each element is almost perfect

[@MPXVM]

6:08 that synth is used mostly in all Bass Bumpers songs from the 90's

[@ElectricSoulShow]

Lfo - Track 4 - is the one. It must have blown the minds of Detriot Techno producers themselves. The Yorkshire Home counties of England. Were listening Hard to the music of Detriot, Usa, and came up with their distinctive "Bleep" sound within Techno music.

[@jimbotron70]

Detroit

[@010101110100]

@@jimbotron70smh if you don’t recognise Detriot Machigin, home of Tochne music

[@jimbotron70]

@@010101110100 Riot in Detroit

[@alanmodimages]

I remember when this came out. The sub bass destroyed everything in its path! I remember talking to the guys at Buy Rite Records in Detroit. They just shook their heads and admitted that they could not reproduce the bass in their studio.

[@riChchestMat]

I was surprised that it’s FM. I always assumed something that dirty was analogue.

[@marcusrafferty7638]

the wizardry of Rob Gordon

[@jimbotron70]

​@riChchestMat FM *is* analog

[@kelvynification]

LFO’s track ‘Freak’ is ridiculously good. The video is an absolute classic must see:)

[@tomstickland]

All three of the albums are full of great tracks.

[@reedcrisis]

I was just crazy about them. Even more with Mentok 1.Walls were shaking.

[@kinada7372]

yes man, Mentok is a beast

[@karaloca]

Brilliant thanks. ‘Squeaky’ is still my favourite LFO track ever though.

[@graysynther2169]

These tunes were the best…very experimental, Raw, perfect for the time. I used to make Stu Allen tapes on Sunday nights…usually baked,bouncing to a new release A few weeks later in the clubs. Great recreation of a great ground breaking track.

[@lemonchill]

this track inspired me (and still is) in music production

[@TwoFingeredMamma]

So cool watching you do this. I was blessed with being roadie/driver/tour manager for Mark, Jez and the two dancers (TDK crew) Samuel Parmer and Dave Warburton for a number of gigs back in the day. All i can say about those days is...... Pilled up groupies are great 😄😁😉😊

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Wow! That's very cool.

[@TwoFingeredMamma]

@@pointblankmusicschool I got the gig through my sister who worked at BBC radio Sheffield as an indi music presenter, she was big friends with Steve Beckett owner of WARP. He called her up one day and asked if she knew anyone that wanted to give LFO a lift to London. They needed to go at short notice but didn't want to give the money to a cabbie and i'm guessing they wanted a smoke on the journey down to London too. 5 of us in my beat up Escort 1600 Mark III with a boot full of synths and DAT players. Great memories. I'm sure with your talents you'll have a bunch of groupies to fend off too. 😀

[@plutostube]

so great congrats for this one, I was listening to it a few days ago and asked my self about the production of it, very simple and effective, patches are important for the vibe of it, they all have a great "stamp"

[@metube2907]

This was awesome, really one the best tunes ever made and recreated super well! thanks

[@macros303]

Wow such a perfect re-creation.. Well done. One of my all time favourite tracks

[@D3ROXX]

It's also said by Gez Varley you can use Simon Harris 909 Loop which exactly the same sound.

[@chickenlips74]

Fantastic deconstruction, I learned a lot, thank you. Amazing how close to the original this is.

[@ICTS22]

A classic right up there with Joey Beltram "Energy Flash." Honourable mention to another track I discovered in my cd collection a few years ago which OBX "02 Eternal Prayer"

[@Kee-Lo]

Brilliant deconstruction Chris!

[@marcusm3600]

Wow, this is fantastic! One of my all time favourite tracks expertly deconstructed.

[@quantize]

Needs a tiny bit of swing shuffle to feel right imho, great job tho, now do stakker humanoid lol

[@simontunnicliffe2107]

Nah, Hardcore Uproar - Together lol!

[@AKAtAGG]

yesssssssss

[@AKAtAGG]

@@simontunnicliffe2107 ALSO YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[@mattm3729]

Bloooohy brilliant mate

[@ThomasFlemmingNorway]

Was looking for the chords. Got much more than I bargained for. Great explabation.

[@21stCenturyDanceClub]

At last! Music Tech at its best! History too! Excellent 👌!!

[@unAbleton]

Nice job! I also did a full cover few weeks ago, except I used 3rd party plugins for the lead / fm bass. The Kawai samples are a bit different from the original, so I've resampled into Ableton to correct the speed for each chords.

[@scottlerocin]

I think I prefer your version ;)

[@unAbleton]

@@scottlerocin ❤️

[@avocadorable4916]

good work my dude!

[@tomstickland]

Very close. The track still sounds sleek and futuristic. I think at 18:05 there's a note missing from the bass, and their LFO voice was more cracked. I'm pretty sure that's what they sounded like straight out of the Speak and Spell back then.

[@IsotonikStudios]

Oh brilliant, thanks for this one!!!

[@Rolanoid]

Awesome tutorial! Timeless album

[@SteveAldous]

I've had the intro of this track as my ringtone for a few years now! 31 years on still sounds fresh 🇬🇪👍

[@TheFesta01]

Same here!

[@TheFesta01]

It’s the track that got me into electronic music.

[@garty2237]

I had a Jen SX-1000 I bought in the very early 2000s, came complete with all the original overlays for patches such as 'Piano' and 'Violin'. Pristine. I lost the patch sheets but still sold it at a huge profit in about 2009. I'm very gutted I sold it now.

[@FALKHET]

Love that track one of the best ever songs. Endless thanks sir

[@LIVERNIL723]

I had this taped on a chrome and even out of an ordinary hi-fi system my dad owned, I blasted out the windows to this in our living room - the B'Line on this especially the remix.

[@Jarah]

This is amazing, always loved this tune. Thanks

[@JEANBRUCEnocturbulous]

Amazing work, thank you for that ! There is actually 7 909 rim shot in the drum section not 2, but it is just a detail.

[@jawoody9745]

Thanks for deconstructing a song from one of my favorite albums. My CD cover has yellow and blue spirals on it. I own everything they put out. They were incredible.

[@mikb5587]

Spot on.

[@oceanspray6969]

This track goes hard

[@zushiomaru]

just saw an interview of Gez Varley where he said they sampled the 909 from, Simon Harris - Breaks, Beats & Scratches (dunno which of the 12 compilations of breaks, acapellas it is, surprise me ;) LFO didn't have an TR 909 then.. :D

[@janchristiansen6353]

Almost perfect, but you should have used the Texas Speak & Spell box as LFO did! 😉

[@jimbotron70]

There are S&S emulators too.

[@Soundsauca]

Man this takes me back, classic tune and great deconstruction. Thanks also for the heads up on Kawai k1v plugin. I do dig an old rompler!

[@Joypadrick]

When I was 12 years old, this track brought me to Techno😍 The feeling it gave me was so special❤️❤️❤️

[@FKU7777]

Loved these guys (RIP) and Unique 3 were top drawer too. Rhythm takes Control by Unique 3.. awesome bleeps!

[@jaystrata.]

This is magic well done m8.

[@mrbreaker101]

What I always suspected - there is no LFO in LFO by LFO

[@hearmenow909]

Low-frequency oscillation

[@MrPerfectpizza]

Brilliant! Bought it when it came out in summer 1990.

[@Ashfaq1999]

Great deconstruction of this classic.

[@martinparker9249]

@1:02 massive now because these legends.....RIP mark

[@OofHearted]

I hear the chords from this when watching 'Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency', It's Bart's background theme music and the first time I watched the show, it drove me mad for quite a while, not being able to recall which song it was from.

[@wellurban]

A really good tutorial overall. Knowing about the minor 7th chords in the K1 preset really helps! The tricky bit is the Speak & Spell: the Linear Predictive Coding used in the original chips was much more than just low bitrate sampling, and created distinctively weird harmonic chirps due to its resynthesis approach. I’m not sure whether plug-ins are available for that, but in Eurorack there’s the Synthtech E950, which uses original ROMs to emulate a circuit-bent Speak & Spell.

[@jimbotron70]

Sure there are emulators out there for S&S

[@lifeispower]

Amazing! simple and accurate, thank pointblank and chris!

[@bluespectrumtapes]

Can you deconstruct testone sweet exorcist?

[@ashleywhiteman2684]

I don't think the mac book is too far removed from the daddy atari st, all the software sequence workflows are pretty much the same. Interesting to see how much was achieved with such simple gear.

[@petrichor649]

Still brings a smile

[@squishmusic]

Good job. Theres a few more rimshot hits and later in the track a 'zap-finger-snap' type percussive - quite popular in the 90s

[@bikesandstuff135]

Fair play someone who looks younger than this track has chosen to deconstruct this.

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Chris is ageless!

[@Flapjack7724]

Brilliant to see this deconstructed. Would love to hear Josh Wink Higher State of Consciousness deconstructed or Taiko - Echo Drop.

[@mcshafty1]

Classic track and an amazing recreation. Your skills and teaching ability are great. I got heaps out of it - thanks mate. I cannot imagine that the authors had the same approach when making the original though😊

[@shh_you_are_wrong]

Brilliant, must try this

[@Acerkool]

Wow great recreation of a great track

[@CarbonatesOnMars]

Love it. Fantastic deconstruction 😊

[@simonsays335]

Thank you so much for this, for years I've tried to work out which synth created those amazing pad noises and it turn it its generated by a free VST I already had, thanks also for the chrords too, doing my own recreation now, only took me 28 years to do it lol!

[@therunningstef5347]

Woah! Never realised how many people liked LFO

[@wiresounds135]

Man, it’s an iconic track. A definition of Techno. Ground breaking back then, it sounded like the future. It still sounds like the future.

[@tomstickland]

@@wiresounds135 Everything they made sounded so streamlined, it all sounds great today.

[@issac1074]

Love Chris, he's a G!

[@jedeyetown]

Wow brilliant tutorial many thanks

[@LozGreenfly]

Banger, influenced me big time

[@metarotta]

thanks so much for this video! i downloaded the kv1 vst and after short tinkering i discovered that LFO also used patch iA-5 ReturnHome for Track 4, no wonder though because these honestly sound wonderful

[@wwlittlejOfficial]

My FIRST electronic music CD, like 1990?. That Leeds Warehouse mix was the BASS!

[@reedcrisis]

Ha, I was a bit earlier. Baby Ford, Oochy koochy, my first CD

[@FabrizioCARENA]

Hello Chris, I'm a big fan of your first album you did with your band!

[@JurgenKranz]

So cool you've done this. It's. Great tune, but also cos Bleep is rarely style I see covered on YT. Great to see this process, 🙏

[@WilliamSwiftMusic]

Amazing job!

[@johnnydanceruk]

'twas a simpler time😎 Great breakdown video, thanks 👍

[@deemarr9151]

The beloved....sun rising!!!!!!

[@sherwintavarez8539]

Did you give up singing with Coldplay to make beats?

[@CosmicD]

I knew I heard this preset before, when that song was popular I was in a keyboard shop in brussels and I thought I found it on a toy keyboard, it's weird but that's how I remember it. Could it be that they had that same preset on one of their toy keyboards ?

[@network909]

Absolutely nailed it

[@theshakez]

Awesome sir!...... where's Ski these days?

[@skioakenfull]

still here!

[@shpab]

That was great, thank you!

[@jeepyhen]

Cool as ..! Nice! Thank you, I learnt a lot!

[@Flashback_Jack]

Damn, this is awesome.

[@DJWerkz]

Please do Voice Activated by Dopplereffekt if you haven’t already

[@MLElf]

Really great work! Nice one