Brian Dougans

Brian Dougans
Background information
Birth name Brian Dougans
Born 23 January 1965
Glasgow, Scotland
Genres Electronica, IDM, trip hop, big beat, ambient
Occupation(s) Musician
composer
producer
Instruments Keyboards,Sampler, synthesizer, drums, laptop, computer, music technology
Years active 1988–present
Labels Jumpin' & Pumpin'
Virgin Records
Rephlex
Associated acts The Future Sound of London
Website futuresoundoflondon.com

Brian Dougans (born 1965, Glasgow, Scotland) is one half of the British electronica group, The Future Sound of London.

He is a "man of many thoughts and few words" almost always letting Cobain take the lead in interviews with them both. He is also the more technical member of FSOL,[1] doing most of the programming, circuit bending etcetera and creating electronic instruments at his home studio in Glastonbury, Somerset where he lives with his wife and two children in a church that stands at the intersection of nine leylines.[2]

Music

Humanoid

Brian Dougans first releases were as "Humanoid", releasing the acid house single "Stakker Humanoid". The track was a hit not just at influential clubs like Shoom in London, but was championed by mainstream stalwarts like Radio DJ Bruno Brookes and Kylie and Jason producer Pete Waterman. After the single reached No. 17 in the UK Singles Chart in November 1988, leading to Dougans' appearance on Top of the Pops on 1 December 1988.[3] Subsequent re-issues also charted in 1992 and 2001.

"Slam", the follow-up, was less successful, reaching No. 54.[4] He has however continued to release music under this name to the present, primarily through FSOL's online digital download store.

Stakker was also used as the name of the collaboration between Dougans and video artists Colin Scott and Mark McLean. Eurotechno, the soundtrack to a visual installation by the group, was originally released in 1989.

Future Sound of London

Brian Dougans met Garry Cobain in 1985 when he was at Salford College of Technology in Manchester studying computer science/engineering. After Cobain left college to set up his own studio Dougans joined him and they began to release a plethora of singles under various aliases, some of which would end up on their first compilation album (as FSOL) Earthbeat in 1992.

Whereas the sound of Amorphous Androgynous is Cobain's vehicle, FSOL's more "mechanical" sound is Dougan's.[1][2]

Discography

All as Humanoid unless indicated.

Albums

Release Date Title Label Notes
27 January 2003
 Eurotechno Rephlex
CAT129CD
An early project, released on Aphex Twin's label Rephlex, a soundtrack of sorts to a visual installation artist Mark McLean both of which was a major inspiration to the Rephlex collective and as such was re-released on the label in 2003.
19 November 2007
 Your Body Sub Atomic FSOLDigital.com
Digital download
20th anniversary remix album of the Stakker Humanoid release and other tracks by Brian Dougans; the remixes are by both new and established artist's and DJ's, download also included an Adobe flash "booklet" and high quality video of the "Feadz 2007 Mix".
19 March 2007
 4 Forests FSOLDigital.com
Digital download
As Part-Sub-Merged, an experimental project released on FSOL's website; a dark soundtrack to a short film by him under the same alias.

Compilation albums

Release Date Title Label Notes
1989
 Global Westside Records
CDHUM 1989
Early compilation of the singles he released in 88/89.
10 February 2003
 Sessions 84-88 Rephlex
CAT130CD
An experimental compilation full of acid house tracks and a remix of Stakker Humanoid.
1 March 2007
 Zeebox 1984-1987 Vol. 1 FSOLDigital.com
Digital download
As Zeebox; the first part of a digital download compilation set of Zeebox albums, experiments from his time in Glasgow and Manchester.
4 March 2007
 Zeebox 1984-1987 Vol. 2 FSOLDigital.com
Digital download
As Zeebox; the second part of a digital download compilation set of Zeebox albums, experiments from his time in Glasgow and Manchester.

EPs

Release Date Title Label Notes
1992
 Braindamage Bit Bites Brain
BIT 9215-12
A release on a small German indie label featuring b-sides by another artist called Phase IV.

Singles

Release Date Title Label Notes
1988
 "Stakker Humanoid" Westside Records
WSRT 12
As Humanoid, first single, hit No. 17 in the UK singles chart, No. 1 in the UK dance chart for five weeks
1989
 "Slam" Westside Records
CDWSR14
As Humanoid, featured on "Global" compilation.
1989
 "The Deep" Westside Records
HUMT2
As Humanoid, featured on "Global" compilation.
1989
 "Tonight" Westside Records
HUMT1
As Humanoid, featured on "Global" compilation.
1989
 "Crystals (Back Together)" Chicago Trax
PROMO HUMT3
As Humanoid, featured on "Global" compilation.
1989
 "R.A.V.E" Dangerous
M-4001
As Humanoid, released on the obscure American Dangerous Records.

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Future Sound Of London Interview
  2. 2.0 2.1 Future Sound of London : Music News Feature | Clash Music
  3. Stuart Aitken (11 November 2013). "Stakker Humanoid: how the Future Sound of London won hearts and minds". guardian.co.uk.
  4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 263. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

External links