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Brian Dougans

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Brian Dougans
Background information
Birth nameBrian Robert Dougans[1]
Born1965 (age 58–59)
Glasgow, Scotland
GenresElectronic, IDM, ambient, techno, experimental
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, producer
Instrument(s)Keyboards, sampler, synthesizer, drums, laptop, computer, music technology
Years active1984–present
LabelsJumpin' & Pumpin', Virgin, Rephlex
Websitefuturesoundoflondon.com

Brian Robert Dougans (born 1965) is a Scottish musician and composer who is a member of the British electronic duo the Future Sound of London (FSOL).

Dougans is the more technical member of FSOL, doing most of the programming, circuit bending et cetera and creating electronic instruments at his home studio in Glastonbury, Somerset. He is currently head of FSOLdigital (FSOL's record label) and co designer of the FSOL:Digitana SX-1 Synthesiser.

Dougans' first releases were as "Humanoid", releasing the acid house single "Stakker Humanoid", which reached number 17 in the UK Singles Chart in 1988, and also charted in 1992 and 2001. "Stakker Humanoid" was No.1 for five weeks in the UK Dance Chart (December 1988) and has been cited as a major influence on early Aphex Twin releases. Dougans’ music as Humanoid is also part of the MOMA NY collection via Stakker Eurotechno. Dougans has always been the quiet, technical workhorse of FSOL whilst Garry Cobain brings in his melody and softness to balance Dougans' technical wizardry.

Music

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Humanoid

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Dougans first releases were as "Humanoid", releasing the acid house single "Stakker Humanoid". The track was a hit not just at influential clubs like Shoom in London, but was championed by mainstream stalwarts like Radio DJ Bruno Brookes and Kylie and Jason producer Pete Waterman. After the single reached No. 17 in the UK Singles Chart in November 1988, leading to Dougans' appearance on Top of the Pops on 1 December 1988.[2] Subsequent re-issues also charted in 1992 and 2001.

Stakker Humanoid was No.1 for five weeks in the UK Dance Chart (December 1988) and has been cited as a major influence on early Aphex Twin releases. Dougans music as Humanoid is also part of the MOMA NY collection via Stakker Eurotechno.

Stakker was also used as the name of the collaboration between Dougans and video artists Colin Scott and Mark McLean. Eurotechno, the soundtrack to a visual installation by the group, was originally released in 1989.

Future Sound of London

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Dougans met Garry Cobain in 1985 when he was at Salford College of Technology in Manchester studying Music Recording Technology. After Dougans left college he set up his own studio in London where Cobain joined him and they began to release a plethora of singles under various aliases, some of which would end up on their first compilation album (as FSOL) Earthbeat in 1992.

Whereas the sound of Amorphous Androgynous is Cobain's vehicle, FSOL's more "mechanical" sound is Dougan's.[3][4]

Synthesizers

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Dougans has co-designed two synthesizers with English electronics company Digitana; the SX-1 analogue synthesizer and the Halia (stand alone digital sampler synth). The SX-1 has been received with critical acclaim and has been used in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Innocents and One Strange Rock.[5]

Guinness World Records

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Dougans received (along with his musical partner Cobain) one retrospective award from the Guinness World Records as the first internet music download on 22 June 1994, distributed via the New York based internet bulletin board Sonicnet.[6]

Discography

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All as Humanoid unless indicated (please see also The Future Sound of London).

Albums

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Release Date Title Label Notes
27 January 2003
 Eurotechno Rephlex
CAT129CD
With the group Stakker, an early project, released on Aphex Twin's label Rephlex, a soundtrack of sorts to a visual installation artist Mark McLean both of which was a major inspiration to the Rephlex collective and as such was re-released on the label in 2003.
19 November 2007
 Your Body Sub-Atomic FSOLDigital.com
Digital download
As Humanoid, 20th anniversary remix album of the Stakker Humanoid release and other tracks by Brian Dougans; the remixes are by both new and established artist's and DJ's, download also included an Adobe Flash "booklet" and high quality video of the "Feadz 2007 Mix".
19 March 2007
 4 Forests FSOLDigital.com
Digital download
As Part-Sub-Merged, an experimental project released on FSOL's website; a dark soundtrack to a short film by him under the same alias.
6 July 2023 Sweet Acid Sound CD TOT 88 Released initially on bandcamp.

Compilation albums

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Release Date Title Label Notes
1989
 Global Westside Records
CDHUM 1989
Early compilation of the singles he released in 88/89.
10 February 2003
 Sessions 84-88 Rephlex
CAT130CD
An experimental compilation full of acid house tracks and a remix of Stakker Humanoid.
1 March 2007
 Zeebox 1984-1987 Vol. 1 FSOLDigital.com
Digital download
As Zeebox; the first part of a digital download compilation set of Zeebox albums, experiments from his time in Glasgow and Manchester.
4 March 2007
 Zeebox 1984-1987 Vol. 2 FSOLDigital.com
Digital download
As Zeebox; the second part of a digital download compilation set of Zeebox albums, experiments from his time in Glasgow and Manchester.

EPs

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Release Date Title Label Notes
1992
 Braindamage Bit Bites Brain
BIT 9215-12
A release on a small German indie label featuring b-sides by another artist called Phase IV.

Singles

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Release Date Title Label Notes
1988
 "Stakker Humanoid" Westside Records
WSRT 12
As Humanoid, first single, hit No. 17 in the UK singles chart, No. 1 in the UK dance chart for five weeks
1989
 "Slam" Westside Records
CDWSR14
As Humanoid, featured on "Global" compilation.
1989
 "The Deep" Westside Records
HUMT2
As Humanoid, featured on "Global" compilation.
1989
 "Tonight" Westside Records
HUMT1
As Humanoid, featured on "Global" compilation.
1989
 "Crystals (Back Together)" Chicago Trax
PROMO HUMT3
As Humanoid, featured on "Global" compilation.
1989
 "R.A.V.E" Dangerous
M-4001
As Humanoid, released on the obscure American Dangerous Records.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "AN END OF SORTS". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  2. ^ Stuart Aitken (11 November 2013). "Stakker Humanoid: how the Future Sound of London won hearts and minds". guardian.co.uk.
  3. ^ The Future Sound Of London Interview Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Barcodezine.com. Retrieved on 2017-06-15.
  4. ^ Future Sound of London : Music News Feature. Clash Music (2009-10-17). Retrieved on 2017-06-15.
  5. ^ "Future Sound of London - FSOL - post". facebook.com. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  6. ^ "First internet music download". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
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