ArtistInfo

Aphro

voc, ES
Dance
A.k.a. Sergio Sainz Vidal Aphro Sainz Vidall

Graphic designer, and music maker. Born in Santander, in the north coast of Spain, Aphro found an interest in hip hop culture and became a graffiti painter in the late 80s. Later, he started to make music with the dub band Better Collie--formed by Roberto Sanchez, Borja Juanco, Emilio Sainz and himself. They released their first demo in 1998: "Better Collie Rides The Way Chapter One", containing the spirit of jamaican masters such as Keith Hudson, Lee Perry, Scientist and Junior Murvin. In 2006 he meets Pablo Bolivar in Barcelona, and they recorded a Burning Spear´s version, "Dub by the River", proving their influences of dub-tech-house but adding a peculiar "dreamy-but-sexy" soul feeling. Pulshar was born. 2007, is the year of their debut EP "Babylon Fall Collection"—a compendium of free-floating melodies in the style of Rhythm & Sound dub tech, with a clear Jamaican influence and soul-pop sensibility. Well-received, the album marked the beginning of the band´s career. A few months later, the four tracks of "Babylon Fall Collection" were added to complete the LP, Brotherhood (released by Phonobox in 2008). The LP features numerous remixes including "Nospheratu," reworked by the godfathers of the Detroit techno dub, Echospace. Their next album, Inside (Desolat, 2010), was a significant evolution in the duo´s style. The dub pulse continued to dominate, but the personality of each track is expanded. One standout quality of Inside is its diversity, which makes room for reggae ("Empty Suitcase/Stepping Stones"), electronic pop ("Distant Fire," "Da Creator") house ("Montparnasse") and downtempo ("California State of Mind," "STARS," and "United States Of Pulshar"). Also included is "Above The Wall," a subtle nod to Michael Jackson´s "Off The Wall." The album was well received and appeared on several lists highlighting outstanding albums of the year. The promotional tour for Inside allowed the band to come into contact with larger venues and this live experience influenced their sound. This was followed by the 12" Different Drum (Desolat, 2013), where a more powerful and muscular dance sound was given the green light, in addition to techno influences and a taste for percussion: Deep house on "She's Got A Ticket," (a sort of Tracy Chapman cover) and "Dream When It 's Wrong," and lysergic techno on "So Tired" and "Wasting Time" (feat. Loco Dice). The title track, "Different Drum," like their song "Distant Fire" from Inside, is reminiscent of electronic pop bands of the 80s. Amongst Pulshar´s influences you’ll find Burning Spear´s "Any River" next to The Stranglers "Golden Brown," with Danny Hensworth/Lee Perry´s "Mr. Money Man," alongside samples of Serge Gainsbourg, Scientist, Raphael, Tonto's Expanding Head Band, Alice Coltrane, Jefferson Airplane and more. Their releases are often indebted to cinematic moods. Traces of Godard (intro Montparnasse 2:00 a.m.), Kubrick (intro of "Skull Girl"), Mad Men ("She´s Got A Ticket"), and the aforementioned "Nospheratu" are weaved into the pair´s musical direction.

Genres

• Dance
• Electronic
• Pop
• Reggae

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