Artist description Solo artist creating trance and ambient music.

Music Style Trance / Ambient

Musical Influences Jean Michel Jarre, Mike Oldfield, Moby, Orbital, The Orb, Underworld, DJ Shadow, Fluke, Leftfield, BBE, The Grid, Fat boy Slim

Similar Artists Jean Michel Jarre, Mike Oldfield, Moby

Artist History Pulse120 was created mid-1999 by Justin Collings, releasing his debut album titled 'Into The Abyss' in March 2000, a collection of melodic ambient and trance music. The second album 'Sombre' was released September 2001 which contained even darker ambient moods and textures. National publicity has been made through major selling magazines 'Computer Music' (Issue 20) and 'Sound On Sound' (July 2000).

Group Members Justin Collings

Instruments Digital Mixing Station: Roland VM3100. Recording: M-Audio Delta 66 (24bit/96khz), Sound Blaster Live! Software: Cakewalk SonarXL. Master Synthesizer: Technics KN2000. Synthesizers: Roland JV-1010 (Techno Expansion), Korg X5DR, Korg Electribe EA-1. Sampler: Emu ESI2000, Rhythm Box: Korg Electribe ER-1. Effects: Viscount EFX10, Zoom 505. Guitar: Fender Strat. Microphone: Shure SM58. Monitors: Behringer B2031

Albums Into The Abyss (2000), Sombre (2001)

Press Reviews Pulse120 was reviewed in July issue of Sound On Sound magazine winning the "Top Tape" award: "Specialising in trance and ambient music, Justin Collings' influences are drawn from Jean-Michel Jarre, Mike Oldfield, The Orb and Moby. You can certainly hear the Jarre influence on the opening mix, with lush string pad, floating piano (courtesy of a long reverb), and synthesized percussive voices appearing in the mix from time to time. The mix balances are very good — Justin's method of creating these usually involves starting with Cakewalk Professional 8, building from a chord progression and melody, adding a rhythm track and then recording the guitar parts as audio before mixing. The arrangements and instrumentation are simple but effective with the chordal pads giving the mix a big sound. Justin's second mix, once again, relies on the string/voice pad and piano combination, but this time the piano is kept dry, emphasising its metallic, hammer-like tones. Electric guitar takes over melody and chords, now and then, but sounds a little thin on the lead line. Given that it's a Fender Stratocaster I think the more mellow neck pickup would have been a better choice for the melody and some echo could have helped the sound to 'gel' with the rest of the mix. However, the abrasive chords worked well — a perfect foil for the warm string pad. In general, the production sound is mellow and favours ambient over trance on both tracks — very few of the common mix techniques found in trance music (such as phase and delay effects) are used. It also has an '80s feel, probably from the Jarre influence, which I rather like. Justin has included WAV and MP3 format data with his demo. In fact, he's taken full advantage of the possibilities afforded by the Internet both to promote his own music, via a web site, and to collaborate with other musicians into trance and ambient. He has even gone so far as to remix another artist's song. This interaction between artists via the Internet is a healthy sign for music in general. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Another major feature was in 'Computer Music' Issue 20 - The review was of my ambient track "Deconstruct": "Something a little more chilled out for you here, and a song that's been constructed with a considerable amount of thought and care. The opening gentle drum and bass parts are fairly regimented, but the mellow atmosphere is first indicated by the heavily chorused guitar strums that kick in. Effectively when the chord played on this instrument changes, the bass remains on the same note, and this trick certainly adds to the song. There's a bit of electric guitar and even a choral pad line, ensuring the song peaks on a grand scale. The well judged chord progression and arrangement should ensure that many will enjoy it."

Location London, Middlesex - United Kingdom

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