You can read about Jan Jelinek in his XLR8R podcast here—the German producer whose works translate popular music sources into abstract textures. Yes, rather than using traditional instruments, Jelinek constructs collages out of tiny sound particles with the help of sample- and recording technology. Since 2000, he has released material under both his own name and various pseudonyms including Ursula Bogner, Farben, The Exposures, and Helmut Schmidt. But this episode of Influences focuses on Faitiche, the label he founded in 2008. What started as a platform for Jelinek’s catalogue has widened its repertoire, adding joint projects, archival discoveries, and works by artist friends. Recorded last month, this mix begins by reflecting on the artists and releases that have shaped the label, before delving into the music that came from these inspirations: which is to say Jelinek’s favorite picks from the label. That’s what Jelinek explains here, in his own words.

“You could say that the mix hides a pivotal point: the first part brings together titles and artists that are important influences for the Faitiche label. Naturally Raymond Scott must be mentioned, whose swinging Versuchsanordnungen (a German, very bureaucratic-technical term for “experiments”) were inspiration for many early Faitiche releases. Included is also a must-have Newxotica title by the wonderful Muscut label. Its founder, Dmytro Nikolaienko, has released on Faitiche as well. Not to forget electro-acoustic classics like Denis Dufour’s Acousmatic Variations, whose catalog I’ve been working through intensively.

“Then, with the transition of Nikolaienko’s “Well-Degraded” and my own track “The water seems changed to mist and vapor,” I changed my mind and presented titles from the Faitiche catalog—a shameless attempt of label propaganda, I suppose

“So the subsequent mix presents the last 15 years of label history. Ursula Bogner titles are included—on whose release Faitiche was founded—as well as new experiments by Frank Bretschneider, Sampledelica by Jonathan Scherk, among others, plus unreleased titles by Faitiche newcomer blackbody_radiation as well as French collagist Roméo Poirier. It’s a selection of my personal favorite and not necessarily the most popular titles from the catalogue. The niche corners of a niche label.“ — Jan Jelinek

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Tracklisting

01. Romeo Poirier “Negative Feedback” (Faitiche)
02. Tiziano Popoli “Twist” (RVNG Intl.)
03. Raymond Scott “The Paperwork Explosion” (Basta Audio-Visuals)
04. Andrew Pekler “Rica de Oro” (Faitiche)
05. Hollywood Edge Sound Library “Night Jungle Ambiance, #1”
06. Eyot Tapes “Ajor” (Muscut)
07. Jan Jelinek “Ernst Jandl, what are your plans for language: revolution, reform, revolt?” (Faitiche)
08. Denis Dufour “Op. 157 Acousmatic Variations” (Kairos)
09. Nikolaienko “Well-Degraded” (Faitiche)
10. Jan Jelinek “The water seems changed to mist and vapor” (Faitiche)
11. Frank Bretschneider “abtasten_halten C” (Faitiche)
12. Masayoshi Fujita & Jan Jelinek “workshop for modernity” (Faitiche)
13. Farben “Rrival Inn (all)” (Faitiche)
14. Daniel Majer “She Barely Spoke” (Faitiche)
15. Ursula Bogner (Andrew Pekler Interpretation) “Jubiläum” (Faitiche)
16. Ursula Bogner (Lucrecia Dalt Interpretation) “Winkel Pong” (Faitiche)
17. Farben Presents James Din A4 “Powerbaum” (Faitiche)
18. Romeo Poirier “Porte Contre” (Faitiche)
19. Andrew Pekler “Mirror Structures (Mirrored)” (Faitiche)
20. Triosk & Jan Jelinek “Track 2” (faitback05)
21. Beispiel “1(1.Teil)” (Faitiche)
22. Asuna & Jan Jelinek “How a spiral works” (Faitiche)
23. Trip Shrubb “Mammes lütket Aum” (Faitiche)
24. Ges “TheButcherBoyOldLadyAndTheDevil” (Faitiche)
25. Blackbody_Radiation “Rhyolite” (excerpt) (Faitiche)
26. Groupshow “Something Is Going To Happen” (Bolt, Bonk, Bound, Bowl) (Faitiche)
27. Computer Soup & Jan Jelinek “The Post-Anthem” (Faitback10)
28. Jonathan Scherk “B5” (Faitiche)