RA Sessions: Surgeon | Resident Advisor

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Modular techno, live and improvised.
For a techno artist of his years and experience, Anthony Child caught the modular bug late. "I wasn't really that interested in it because it seemed like you had to spend thousands of pounds to make a very basic kind of 'clip-clop' sound, and that didn't really appeal to me," he once told XLR8R. But after years of working primarily with software, his routine started to feel too comfortable, and the modular seemed like a good way to shake things up-"like throwing a wild animal into the occasion," as he put it. Once he made the plunge, racks of blinking lights and colored cables became central to his craft. In addition to what he's got in the studio, he carries a portable rig in his carry-on luggage, and has even started incorporating it into his DJ sets.
Far from basic "clip-clop" sounds-or the kind of meandering self-indulgence many people think of when they hear the words "modular synthesis"-the music Child wrings out of his little kit is rich, varied and artfully composed. In this edition of RA Sessions, colorful, dynamic rave tracks seem to emerge fully-formed, though in fact the performance was "completely improvised with nothing prepared beforehand." The result makes a compelling case for this approach to playing live, and offers a peek at the perpetually evolving methods of a techno luminary.
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Credits:
Director - Patrick Nation
Producer - Debbie Butts
Editor - Guy Clarke
Camera - Charlie Moore, Mattia Ramberti, Patrick Nation, Guy Clarke
Sound Engineers - Rich Cufley, Guy Clarke
Colourist - Adam Clarke

[@FlorianMeindlMusic]

surgeon is a timeless constant in techno with highest quality!

[@seetomulyadi6893]

cannot agrred more!

[@hoppy303]

The best part of this is from 0:00 to 11:59

[@kippokid]

+Chris Hopcroft Poss the best youtube comment i've ever read, you aint wrong

[@DivKid]

+Chris Hopcroft yeah I aren't fussed for that last 1 second either .. :)

[@hoppy303]

+DivKidMusic I see it running to 11:59 here. I'm sure that fraction of a second at the end is just as good as the previous almost 12 mins though :)

[@chidamole]

+Chris Hopcroft Really enjoyed that bit

[@jendrikschmidt]

tiptop audio

[@isaac.anthony]

Tony gotta button that top button, he's a god damn professional.

[@daub1]

a master of techno for so many years

[@seetomulyadi6893]

fo shu

[@ibara3321]

Absolutely

[@devmiles]

a timeless electronic wizard

[@danemx5]

Ive watched this over 100 times now.

[@spookykooky3222]

12 minutes only, but the best 12 minutes to sample what this guy does with a plethora of cables and who knows what else?!

[@julienbayle]

modular + octatrack is the approach I like

[@Ratimus_]

Channeling Kraftwerk + the Bellville Three while still managing to sound like himself. Well done, chap.

[@TheMancunianCandidate]

Proper knob twiddling techno goodness!

[@LaCosaNostraProd]

Modular Sequencer is fantastic!!

[@DivKid]

Ace! Great to see Surgeon developing the tools he's using live.

[@nickkrused]

Always worth listening to.

[@seetomulyadi6893]

fr fr

[@aimehetharie9230]

06:00 sounds so fresh

[@balintnogrady2486]

God bless this guy! Is he super cool or what?!!

[@rorymccaskill9034]

Always a treat.

[@Keaton1x]

the last couple minutes are my favorite

[@LNR157]

agreed from 8:25 onwards to 10 or so

[@grahamhoward3462]

I like this guy....his style.

[@almatechno4779]

GOD SAVE THE KING OF TECHNO !!!

[@mrtambourineman6107]

My favorite Brummy DJ 😮😮😮

[@djaneTechnograndma]

My biggest techno love ever

[@Daikokuto]

no beard + that haircut + blinking modular = he looks like the nerdiest nerdy nerd

[@Daikokuto]

+BobLawless check out that ring when he tweaks. that means he's married

[@LNR157]

does that even matter

[@CasWreckinCrew]

@@Daikokuto and??

[@CasWreckinCrew]

Nah hes cool as fuck...

[@cheetahlion79]

Very cool live modular jam. I like how it is synced to the Octatrack. I'm still using Reason to drive my modular but am also looking to control it with some hardware.

[@ivanzoloto3925]

OMG Dwight Schrute goin' strong

[@eddiecooper4142]

+Ivan Afanasyev loool

[@zuridamarelja665]

+Ivan Afanasyev hotter than dwight tho

[@DavidLones]

+Ivan Afanasyev "I'm like Dwight Schrute the way that I eat beats"

[@patientzero4889]

This should have a lot more views

[@DrMotteOfficial]

well done! that's my taste!

[@MyDiamondStarCar]

Anthony turned those machines into weapons!

[@NICUofficial]

so groovy. Look how much he gets from a compact setup. I'm working towards something like this myself right now with a TR-8S drum machine coupled to 104hp of modular in either a 4U or 7U case, plus a small outboard mixer. The more compact I get, the more realistic I feel it becomes to perform live. This is a true challenge. He's really in control of his setup. love that transition that starts emerging around 5:00. handled beautifully. good transitions live with modular as a one-man band... not easy.

[@Chicagomatic]

Playing modular. Respect.

[@aki_gong6271]

Enourmous Surgeon! Respect man

[@precodemocratico4451]

The stuff of legends.

[@sweetrobot2k]

Dwight Schrute on dem decks!!!

[@lced.bspiralbb1851]

C'est le début pu de platine que des sons énormes.

[@danoved6685]

Holy crap. I was just friggin blow away. Such a talented artist. How can there be any dislikes? My only complaint is I so wish it was longer !

[@gonzahidalgo]

This was the real deal.

[@saboteur74]

Maestro!

[@forcytek]

Fantastic...

[@sheldondrake8935]

always up to something new...always slaying

[@TheseOpenRoads]

legend

[@MAESTREZOMBI]

EL CIRUJANO Y SUS APARATITOS CON CABLES OOOOOHHHH YEEEAAAHH !!!

[@adriano_sp]

M A S T E R !!!

[@ZhaodiWang]

So good, always so tight just enough bang Einstein/ Special Relativity Johann sebastian bach/ Classical Surgeon/ Techno.

[@ZhaodiWang]

+yann27 my comment was my opinion of "awwe" for dj surgeon. I feel he embody the spirit techno with broad spectrum of sounds. I enjoy listening to all the music he made/mixed through the years. You stated that I do not understand Tech ( I can not speak for other woman ), apparently you understand me more then myself :) there are many thing I do not understand in this world but it does not stop me from enjoying it, listening it, testing it...I actually listened a couples your LPs its was digestible but what do I know I am just another woman who do not understand Tech as you stated:) since your work is so knowledgeable I look forward hearing more of it!!! Have a wonderful day!!!

[@andi80s]

+Judy Wang i don't think you need to make any excuses for yourself, if you like it you like it, forget this misogynist

[@andi80s]

+yann27 you're a troll.

[@Quim1441]

Bach was Barroque tho

[@DjJakker]

questo si che è stile!!!!!!!!!ottimo sound

[@edimarfi78]

The Master!

[@LNR157]

the melody in the 8:25 to 10:30 section is sick

[@jefdamen2977]

Great!

[@davidreina7997]

MASTER

[@xn4polionx]

Dr. Anthony Child

[@_LuisMiguel_MBenz]

Grande!!!

[@geoffreydc2898]

masterclass

[@Osrs_Acid]

I whis I can find the last name of the song but the whole set high quality!

[@666waughtron666]

This is why they call him Surgeon.

[@TippiTub]

Proper!!

[@AndroLectric]

groooovyyyy :-) TOP

[@DJ-Lazy-Lodger]

man this bassdrum is way to kicky;-)

[@pixelfrenzy]

I wish the directors of these things would realise that modular-heads want to know what's in the rack! Low shots showing lots of cables and knob-twiddling are so frustrating.

[@rossalexandertechno]

you tube is consistently the best place for trolls

[@Kolibri32searchparty]

wicked

[@larrybeckham6652]

The beginning sounds a bit like "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Grooving with a Pict". So awesome there no keyboard - Don Buchla will be proud. Is it a home brew rig?

[@claudiovasquez4133]

Fuuuck I love this guy

[@hardhouse87]

Fuck, this is pretty damn special!

[@dylansang1747]

goddamn sooooooo good

[@_gonza.m_]

Pure Techno

[@dxtrs_mnpltr]

Force&Form

[@kij9485]

❤️

[@256k_]

What case is that? It looks really shallow I love it

[@matman16]

Wizard

[@TheseOpenRoads]

+Matt Young Jeff Mills is the wizard. Surgeon can be anything else.

[@jefdamen2977]

+Hillsdale Genius

[@TheseOpenRoads]

Jef Damen I agree

[@PaulBoos]

I wonder what the lit panel is that seems to be controlling most of his drum sounds. I presume it is some form of sequencer? I guess it is time do some searching on modulargrid...

[@PaulBoos]

Well I didn't find anything at modulargrid - anyone know what that unit is?

[@tombaye]

@@PaulBoos that's Circadian Rhythms by Tiptop Audio

[@PaulBoos]

@@tombaye Thanks! I had given up...

[@CaptureWhispers]

he is amazing! but i never see him patch while playing even a long set. what are some ways to get around this? i'm trying to have my system similar to this but find it very difficult.

[@cj1000xyu]

He intentionally doesn't pull/plug patch cables during a live set. You can do that, but it can be hard to see in a club and you can easily make mistakes (some of which are happy accidents, others are more sort of, "Why has it all stopped?!") The approach I use (and I understand that Surgeon operates on the same basis) is to structure the patch around the architecture of a "Groove Box", rather than a "Synth". The added advantage of working this way, is that it allows you to dramatically improve the ergonomics of your case (particularly important for live play) by cable-tieing bundles of patch leads in situ, so knobs/buttons are much more easily accessible. If you try this approach and you still find that you *really* need to patch or unpatch a few key cables, you can easily build "switch" modules that consist of: Jack in->Switch->Jack out Where the switch routes the input signal to a different Jack out (changing the destination) or to an 'empty' Jack out (which effectively stops the signal, for the purposes of the patch). I'm sure it's possible to buy some too, but I don't know any off the top of my head, as I built my own. Alternatively, there are CV Mixers with assignable outs (eg Intellijel's Mutamix). Hope this helps and good luck!

[@stephengreco5115]

Switches combining multiple sequences so you can let it evolve over time by combining different parts

[@cj1000xyu]

​@@LanderVervaet 2-3 years back he was using some case that was the largest case you could get that'd fit in carry-on in planes. I can't remember the brand, other than that it was *not* Doepfer, sorry.

[@djbobby5596]

looking like Dexter Morgan tho

[@djvartan]

This is how its done folks, NO COMPUTER SCREENS HERE!

[@djvartan]

ok buddy

[@ards5161]

check out a sleeparchive

[@Vurt72]

+freaks platter well, for a live performance like this i would say modulars are preferable for a number of reasons, both for the audience and for the person doing the performance. As for *making* *music* in general, its obviously up to the artist.. personally i cant stand working on my PC after going modular.

[@Knuttlehelmut]

+djvartan Surgeon did most of his track with a computer between at least 2000 & 2013... call him "not true"

[@Strepite]

+djvartan What do you think that Elektron is? ;)

[@ivanito_gm]

HE IS TALKING STUFF THAT RESONATES WITH TIME AND SPACE, POWER, AND IM DOWN.

[@gemaiglesiasdonate3988]

💛💚💖

[@198402230730]

Track ID? :D

[@girlinagale]

130bpm

[@laurensleufkens2759]

anyone know what brand shirt he's wearing?

[@josebmoreno6257]

top

[@ilovechocolate330]

what exactly is he playing through? this is wicked

[@radflow12]

+Ciaran Tomlin it's a modular set up... a bunch of different synth, sequencer, and effect modules connected to each other. not sure what all he is using, but the black and grey box closest to him is an elektron octatrack sampler, and the blinking LED part of the modular rack is a tip top audio circadian rhythm sequencer, i believe.

[@victormontes6700]

Cuando surgeon vino por primera vez a la mejor discoteca del mundo( la real-oviedo-España, (D.E.P)), Ya tenía yo los huevos pelaos jajjajajaj

[@alexpn_]

How can this be 6 years old

[@turgayaksoy3032]

Did you shoot this with 3 or 4 cameras?

[@flaaressence]

Can someone enlighten me on what gear he is using? and how it's all running so well?

[@urmumsbaps]

It's some things that go BLEEP and some things that go BLOOP and some other things that go BOOM BOOM BOOM and TSS TSS TSS, hope that helps

[@strongknives8767]

What is the launchpad looking modual on the eurorack???

[@CrystalizedDreams]

what stand is that?

[@CasWreckinCrew]

Play list?....

[@Memjutsu]

What's he playing with?

[@lucasteruel3639]

anyone have the name of this big buttons sequencer module ?

[@Crucial_Realm]

Lucas Teruel it’s a circadian rhythms by tip tip audio :)

[@lucasteruel3639]

thanks a lot Thom Motecchi ;)

[@AndyParkinson-r2h]

OPERATING THEATRE

[@MoaPillar]

Why modular?

[@ioth303]

whats that synth???

[@Lofuckyou]

I think it's like a circuit bent microkorg.

[@hsienleyt4890]

+Quinn Pulser elektron analog 4, I think

[@Daikokuto]

+TheKillingRhythm he use the ot as a 2 track looper lol. lol.

[@Daikokuto]

+TheKillingRhythm Yes sure it is, but it's like using a grenade for killing a fly. To me i think this piece of hardware might be even more interesting than the modular he's using

[@juanandres446]

min 5!

[@xcvxcvcxvxvcq]

DJ DWIGHT SHRUTE

[@marianoibanez2521]

rico

[@thetaflux6267]

worst camera angle ever. we want to see the modular!

[@q3rageq3]

How did he manage to record his automation on the modular including adding reverb mix - HERE kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqnYeKihqqmFnc0 , watch 30 seconds and you ll hear.

[@anthonychild1877]

+funky junky Not automation, just a looper. Modular is being fed through Octatrack which is set up as a looper. More info here- www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=150275

[@q3rageq3]

oh, I see. thanks for reply! :)

[@spencerlenard6028]

A

[@willsi]

Blistering.

[@nikos1708]

xyse mesa

[@sunsilab2655]

.

[@Frankie4Kitchtech]

Some good moments, but this modularmania performances are going to simplify the songs... Maybe the modular can always hv a part in studio, but for this performance for example , is more like a Eurocrack exibition for addicted people... Thats the sad true about eurorack exploit in my opinion...

[@owenthesoyboy]

+MarcO Frankie Costa Paczuski Not sure about that. Some of the best work from this master craftsman, his early work, was more simplified versus any bits from this session. The recipe for so many classic techno works - minutes and minutes of monotony until one enlightening deluge of a filter sweep as the percussion drops for just one bar and then the song gets back into biting your face off, that was ripe fruit! Even the common sonic flavor in several or all tracks on the same record are trademarks of the past's limited studio setups that was utilized to the fullest, to squeeze out that which was unique.This performance is something different than the past and the distant beginnings, it is all part of a healthy growth and I don't see the downside you may see, at least not in this session.

[@dxtrs_mnpltr]

Its called minimalism for a reason bro

[@irf6615]

What ever you say ableton boy

[@openhat64tel64]

@@23logaritam surgeon stands for minimalism