Precursors, by Thomas Ronkin

Precursors

by Thomas Ronkin

supported by

	/

Precursors
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

Limited edition. Comes housed in collectable silver tin with round window that displays the disc art & cover.

Includes unlimited streaming of Precursors via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Sold Out

	1.	Interactive Sanctum 07:38
	2.	Cyclonic 10:37
	3.	The Science of Ascension 07:44
	4.	Stirrings at the Molecular Level 07:10
	5.	Far from Inert 06:05
	6.	Deactioned Shift 05:37

about

LESS THAN 10 COPIES LEFT!

Though a cult figure among electronic music aficionados, Thomas Ronkin still remains one of the unsung American practitioners mining the rich electronic seam forged by Teutonic forebears Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Manuel Gottsching/Ashra, et al.

At the time of the recording of the works to be found here — the early to mid 80s — such music was deemed "unfashionable" within a musical climate gripped by post-punk, new wave, and the onslaught of mild-mannered "new-agers". Electronic music as a genre was on the cusp of being wholly subsumed into dance-based culture and what few categorical analogs then existed (Steve Roach, the aforementioned German sequencer mavens and their ilk) were keen to hammer out their own unique directions regardless of trends or topicality. Fortunately, the industry's ebb & tide dictates that what goes around comes around — today, thanks to a whole generation re-embracing 80s sonic culture, the decade that gave simultaneous birth to John Carpenter, Giorgio Moroder, John Foxx, TD's Hollywood soundtracks, and minimal wave synth-pop, Ronkin's transcendent music is cause for celebration, and never been more timely.

Using then state-of-the-art drum machines, synths, and sequencers, Ronkin works the minimalist/maximalist dynamic to exhilarating effect, his variable tempos and headrush pulsations creating currents of rippling energy that dance nimbly through the eardrum. Whether your tastes gravitate towards the bygone eras of classic Schulze, Roach, Steve Reich, and David Borden's Mother Mallard, or the contemporary skeins fomented by Oneohtrix Point Never, Pulse Emitter, Emeralds, Skaters, etc., Precursors remains just as dazzling now as when it was first forged nearly three decades ago.

credits

released April 23, 2012

Recorded live to tape between 1984 and 1986 in Thomas Ronkin’s studio in Venice, California, on Roland, Sequential Circuits, and Crumar synthesizers and sequencers. Though normal, slight distortion may be discerned on some of these tracks due to the limitations of the analog equipment of its time.

Original digital transfers realized by Loren Nerell. Final mastering by Gregory Kyryluk.

Many thanks to Dean De Benedictis and Darren Bergstein for instigating this resurrection.

©1984-1986, 2012 Thomas Ronkin
©2012 Periphery

license

about

Periphery Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey

otperiphery.com

Recommendations

contact / help

Contact Periphery

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like Precursors, you may also like:

Morphology
by Robert Rich

supported by 7 fans who also own “Precursors”
go to album
This Place To Be
by Steve Roach

supported by 7 fans who also own “Precursors”

Another of my favorites to calm my mind. It takes me to another place slow my racing thoughts Tom
go to album
Node 2 (DiN44)
by Node

supported by 5 fans who also own “Precursors”

When I bought this album, it said I would have the option to download it, but I do not. BandCamp says I own it, but there's no download option. pmoreno
go to album
Music for Rainy Days
by Blinkhorn

Blinkhorn’s compositions bubble up from beneath the sound of actual rainfall, soothing and peaceful, surrounding you like a warm blanket. Bandcamp New & Notable May 22, 2022
go to album
Prismatic / Loomstate
by Curved Light

Opalescent synth waves crash gracefully on top of each other on this enlightened electronic album. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 11, 2016
go to album
A Revolution in Customer Service
by Object Agency

featured on Bandcamp Radio Jun 14, 2016
go to album
Life to Come
by Redshift

supported by 5 fans who also own “Precursors”

honestly this album takes quite a bit of time and many listening rounds to actually "get into". No doubt it is technically excellent, with more advanced composition elements than earlier records, however it isn't that easily accessible either. Perhaps this is actually a strength as each time you will listen to there will be more details to discover. Martin R
go to album