micronaut

Electronica / Drum n' Bass / Experimental

Billboard

Micronaut, the style-spanning instrumental project of former Sister Machine Gun frontman Chris Randall, draws from the deep tradition of the Chicago electronic music scene, while keeping a definite rock feel with the judicious use of guitars and traditional song structures, instead of the "change every eight measures" formula of most electronic acts. From the arid analog syncopation of the self-titled first album (1998), through the IDM-influenced progressive house and drum 'n' bass rhythms of Io (2000) and Ganymede (2002), to the complex cinematic soundscapes of 2005's Europa, Micronaut releases have kept pace with the current state of electronic music, while carving out a niche that is distinct at the same time.

The Micronaut project was begun in 1997 by Randall as an vehicle for releasing music that wasn't necessarily appropriate to the "industrial music" fans of Sister Machine Gun; by 2005, with the release of Europa and the Noise To Signal tour with label-mates Amish Rake Fight, Micronaut had morphed in to a project that could stand on its own. Indeed, Micronaut has superseded Sister Machine Gun to be Randall's main creative outlet, while numerous appearances in the soundtracks of video games and television shows have led to wider recognition and acceptance to join with the critical acclaim each release garners.

Callisto, the next Micronaut release, will take the filmscapes and sophisticated rhythms of Europa a step further. "I've really started to pay attention to the music in movies, how it works with the images for sort of an emotional body-blow," says Randall. "My ultimate goal is to make an album that doesn't need a movie at all, but is a soundtrack that evokes imagery on its own."