Decoder (duo)

Decoder is the stage name of drum and bass and jungle producer Darren Beale and Mark Caro.^[1]

Biography

Beale started his career in 1991 using various aliases creating oldschool hardcore tracks. He continued fine tuning the deep jungle sound under the Orca and Koda aliases on Lucky Spin Records and its sister label, Deejay Recordings, releasing "Tranquility to Earth" in 1994. In 1995 he first used the Decoder pseudonym, pioneering the dark or 'tech step' style of drum & bass, often on Mark Caro's label Tech Itch Recordings.

1997 saw the release of Decoder’s Decoded EP, which achieved press recognition with a number eighteen placing in NME’s "Vibes Singles of the Year" chart.^{[citation needed]}

Decoder releases appeared on various labels, including Breakbeat Culture, Tech Itch Recordings, Hard Leaders, 31 Records and Audio Couture. Decoder also provided production for Peshay's Miles From Home.

Beale’s next release, the Encrypted EP, reached number three in Fabio & Grooverider’s "Rollers Top Ten" chart in 1998. The Encrypted EP, along with "Headlock", "Deception" and Decoder’s collaboration with Mark Caro, EKO, followed. The debut album, Dissection, appeared on Hard Leaders Records in 1998^[2] and went on to receive critical acclaim in the industry.^{[citation needed]} Decoder was also responsible for remixes of tracks such as Photek’s "Rings Around Saturn", Adam F’s "Dirty Harry" and Alan McGee’s "The Chemical Pilot".

Beale later went on to form a new band, Kosheen.

Discography

Albums

• Dissection (1998)
• Encounters (1999)
• Concussion (2003)

References