Words by Justin Turford
The first ever release on Luke Una’s new (Mr Bongo supported) imprint, É Soul Cultura, ticks all the boxes one would expect from the legendary DJ, compiler and clubland stalwart. Electronic music with groove, soul, sensuality, attitude and that sense of transcendence that marks out all of the best music. The album ‘Transmission One’ by the Liverpool-based duo Transmission Towers drips with class and intuitive knowledge and may well be perceived as an instant classic in due course. Awash with melodic hooks, powerful beats and cosmic intention, the duo veer between warmly aggressive punk-funk that seems to channel ESG (‘Up’) and Damo Suzuki (‘Everything’), emotionally charged machine soul (‘Sparse’, ‘One’, ‘Go Slow Heart’) and extraterrestrial sunshine sounds (‘Cosmic Trigger’, Planetary Alignment’). Finely tuned, nothing is too hectic, every track swings and grooves, the spiritual, even psychedelic atmosphere, in a warm, bass-heavy embrace with the carnal, the body.
With musical references that reveal (to me anyway) 4Hero, celestial soul (Mandre, Roy Ayers), Sun Ra, Detroit electronica (and garage punk snarl) as well as touches of the magpie-esque tendencies of 80s post-punk eclecticism, it’s no surprise to discover that Mark Kyriacou and Eleanor Anorbea Mante have skin in the game. It takes time and work to become this good.
When you dig into Mark’s discography, we can see where his mastery of synthetic and analogue noises was developed. The kosmische radiophonic experimentalism of his time leading Loka (Ninja Tunes), Rotary Fifth and Harmonische-23, petri dishes of sonic playfulness and invention. Eleanor’s background comes from a more radical, improvisational perspective, used to singing on the brink in a punk fusion band; it is her unconventional soulfulness that gives this album its edge.
On the day of the release, I sent them a few questions and in between a roadblock of a successful launch party and live performance with Luke Una in Manchester, they generously answered them..
The first release on Luke’s brand new label must feel like quite an honour! How did you initially get into Luke’s ears and how has the relationship developed?
Mark - I'd sent Luke (he reckons I was hassling him ha) a few music bits and bobs the previous year. He always took the time to reply which was lovely as I know he gets inundated (proper hassled ha). So after Eleanor and me had a few ideas for what would become TT, the track ‘Roller Skater 23’ being one, I thought I'd just send him a quick message. I guess I was buzzing at what we were writing and was after some guidance - I trust Luke's musical ears - I sent him a little short snippet of the track. He liked it then asked if I had any more. I wasn't expecting anything more than some feedback just to see if we were on the right path but it then resulted in a telephone chat at 7am. We chatted for ages and I felt we had a lot in common music wise plus I totally latched on to the fact that he was very honest and frank which was refreshing. From that call it just seemed to get the ball rolling and over time Luke would send me some music to listen to, which inspired me to write more, the track ‘Sparse’ being a prime example of that. (It) definitely has Luke's inspiration in its essence
Eleanor - Mark had contacted me in January of 2023 asking if I was still interested in making music. I was absolutely up for the challenge as I had been feeling rather stale with what had been going on in my life at the time. I felt I needed a positive change, a new constructive challenge, and this invitation suited me perfectly. Essentially, it led to the lyrics for ‘Up’. Our original thoughts were to make a demo to share with a few contacts and Luke was one of the first people we had shared our demo with.
The press release mentions that you were creating together a decade ago, what did that look and sound like back then?
Mark - I had met Eleanor when Loka (an old project of mine) was touring Canada back in 2007. We kept in touch and when I was writing Loka's second album ‘Passing Place’ in 2010, I asked Eleanor to add vocals to a couple of tracks (check out Loka ‘As the Tower Falls’ ). Since then we had been meaning to collab together on music but it wasn't until Jan 2023 that it actually happened.
Eleanor - Our previous collaboration was for Mark’s Loka project. I had made music in the past that was more of an improvisational style. So working with Loka in a more structured context was interesting. Whereas with Transmission Towers, I bring more of my whole self into the creative process, where improv can be laid down, revisited and remoulded.
How do you create together? Sending music and ideas across to each other or sharing studio space together. Or a hybrid? How did your guests fit into the record as it developed and how did you identify who you wanted to work with?
Mark - Yes, it was basically that, sending ideas back and forth. I'd write some music, send it to Eleanor and she'd reply with some vocal ideas for it, and with me being an impatient get, I'd lift the vocal from the voice message and slot it into the arrangement. We'd then redo the vocals properly at a later date. The final vocals were recorded either at a couple of sessions at Eleanor's or my flat. Some of the more spoken word parts or basic vocal parts are from the original voice messages, if the recording has that essence then I felt no point trying to redo it. So the other musicians who feature, I've worked with them previously on different projects. It was just a case of feeling what a track needed and then asking the relevant person. Toby Baker who added piano to ‘Affirmation Of Love’, he was the MD/Keyboardist for Change when we supported them last year. I just got chatting music to him then asked if he'd contribute to a track or two. He's such an amazing keyboard player, puts me to shame, ha!
Eleanor - Mark would send me his ideas and I would have a dance in my kitchen and ideas would spill out, which I would send back over to him.
How have your different identities (Scouse, Ghanaian, Nigerian, Irish, Greek Cypriot) revealed themselves in your music?
Mark - Never really thought about the identity thing to be honest. I have just written whatever comes out. I know Eleanor and me have similar ideologies about equality and all of us being one etc, so I guess that theme runs through a lot of the tracks - the space travel, cosmos themes and giving a nod to us all being part of a much bigger thing.
Eleanor - I can only speak/sing from what I know. I’m not sure if it's my culture or my story that is the influence. I write from the heart and from my experience, which I feel is fairly unique. I’ve lived in North America and Europe and have West African heritage so that melange is incorporated into every facet of my life. It can’t be separated.
As also mentioned in the press release, there’s a ton of possible influences and aspirations to your music - what were you aiming for yourselves? Any standout records or artists/musical genres that provided extra inspiration for you both?
Mark - The initial music I wrote for TT was just me writing from memory of the music which really inspired me (in the) late 80s / early 90s plus a lot of spiritual jazz etc I’d absorbed along the way. Writing wise, I just wanted to try and create it all using synths and drum machines but with my over-egging trait, then started feeling some real instruments would give it some organicness (is that even a word ha? Editor: Yes it is). Records wise? So many to list but to name but a few - James Mason ‘I Want Your Love’, Black Dog ‘Bytes’, Sun Ra ‘Lanquidity’, June Tyson (love her vocal style) ESG, early Detroit (May, Atkins, Craig etc). In reality, it was all just my take on the music I've absorbed over the years spat out through my filter.
Eleanor - I don’t aim for a specific sound or genre. It is an improvisational process for me. However, I do have a diverse palette for sound. It's hard for me to pick genres, but I’ll groove on a certain sound for a period of time and then jump back in time to old favourites. I love singing along to artists like Silver Apples, The Slits, Sister Nancy, or Iggy & The Stooges. Then I’ll listen to DJ mixes of booty-shaking house or reggaeton. Just depends on what mood I’m in currently.
There’s an otherworldly atmosphere to many of the songs, spaceship funky, escapist even. Is this a wilful decision based on any ideals you have or just a musical aesthetic that you share?
Mark - I guess It was a shared view between us both about us all being part of a much bigger thing and that our very essence comes from the same source (i.e. the remnant of dead stars etc). I just feel as a species we get far too focused on our own little areas/patches. It’s such a shame as we are all here in such a brief moment of time and it’s such a privilege to be able to witness the beauty of the Universe but then far too many of us just spend it blinkered, riddled with anger and just hell-bent on creating division. So for me I just wanted an antidote to all that in music form, something that shares love and the feelings that we are all one.
Eleanor - Our collaboration is very organic and honest. I spend a lot of time thinking and the realisations spill out as lyrics to accompany Mark’s ideas. It has come together so effortlessly so I don’t judge or question the process. I just go with it and am always happily surprised by the outcome. I dig that other people dig it so I am inspired to continue sharing my truth, thoughts and findings from my experiences and social observations.
A cosmic trigger is an event or experience that causes a significant shift in consciousness or perspective. This can be a sudden realisation, a profound insight, or a transformative experience that leads to a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of the universe. Cosmic triggers are often described as moments of awakening or enlightenment that propel individuals on a path of personal growth and spiritual evolution. - Robert Anton Wilson
Tune into and buy Transmission One here! https://transmissiontowers.bandcamp.com/album/transmission-one