Jamie Tiller & Music From Memory

Before the end of the year I would like to make a special publication for the passing of Jamie Tiller, as you already know.

Unfortunately I didn’t have the chance to see him live but there was no mix or release that I missed from his label Music From Memory that he founded with Tako Reyenga and Abel Nagengast. 

As a cofounder of Music From Memory, Jamie helped define reissue and record digging culture in the early 2010s. The label put out seminal reissues and compilations of artists like Gigi Masin, Spacetime Continuum, MLO, The System, Suzo Sáiz, Becker, Stegmann, Zeumer, Dream Dolphin and many more.

In many cases leading to career revivals for these artists. It also released acclaimed compilations of 20th-century brazilian music, european and japanese pop, ambient techno, trance and IDM with Virtual Dreams. In addition, he ran the Second Circle and Basic Spirit labels with Tornado Wallace dedicated to releasing new music.

A true DJ, digger and one of my biggest inspirations.

Music is about discovering, enjoying and sharing with your friends <3

RIP amigo 🕊🤍

https://soundcloud.com/jamietiller

https://www.discogs.com/label/578259-Music-From-Memory

• Heart Sphere – E​.​R. (Emergency Relief) EP [Basic Spirit] (2021)

Written by: Tornado Wallace & Jamie Tiller

Big thanks to Henning (Vibe consulting) and Alia (vocal synthesizing)

• The System – The System EP [Music From Memory] (2016)

Music From Memory’s latest release in their 12” series focuses on the little known UK band The System. A project masterminded by Bob Lamb, a somewhat cult figure in Birmingham’s music history; the short lived group released only one album ‘Logic’ and a single in 1983 on the somewhat obscure French label ‘Romantic Records’.

This distinctively forward thinking new wave/synth pop album met with poor distribution and with almost no promotion to speak of at the time and quickly dwindled into obscurity. The albums sense of technological exploration, outstanding production value coupled with the band’s gift of writing deeply emotive, yearning pop tunes, make it sound though perhaps more relevant today than many other far more successful albums of it’s time.

• MLO -Oumuamua [Music From Memory] (2021)

Music From Memory are excited to present the first compilation of works by British electronic pioneers MLO aka Peter Smith and Jon Tye. Titled ‘Oumuamua’ and second up in the Virtual Dreams series, the compilation is an in-depth artist focused release containing twelve thoughtfully selected tracks that touch on highlights from the duo’s discography as well as newly (re)discovered music drawn from a vast archive of unreleased pieces, sketches and extended jams recorded between 1993-1995.

• Virtual Dreams: Ambient Explorations In The House & Techno Age, 1993 – 1997 [Virtual Dreams] (2021)

Music From Memory is delighted to be turning 50 with a special release: Virtual Dreams: Ambient Explorations In The House & Techno Age, 1993-1997 (3xLP/2xCD).

The first in a series of various artist compilations, alongside more in-depth artist focused releases, Virtual Dreams will delve into music produced during the 1990’s that redefined the boundaries of ‘Ambient’. This was music that explored the possibilities of Ambient within a new setting, created often by House and Techno producers for a world beyond dance floors but made very much with the pre-clubbing and post-clubbing listener in mind.

• Suso Sáiz – Odisea [Music From Memory] (2016)

Music From Memory’s latest retrospective is a double album that showcases the solo work of Spanish electronic music pioneer Suso Sáiz.

Having been at the forefront of Spain’s experimental music scene since the late 1970s, multi-instrumentalist Suso Sáiz formed the pivotal group Orquesta de las Nubes and studio project Música Esporádica, releasing a string of albums on Madrid’s now cult label Grabaciones Accidentales, which was also home to groups such as Finis Africae, Mecánica Popular, and Ishinohana. A prolific producer, he has recorded with Spain’s most singular popular musicians as well as with a number of luminary electronic and world music artists such as Steve Roach, Jorge Reyes, and Salif Keita.

• Outro Tempo: Electronic And Contemporary Music From Brazil 1978 – 1992 (2017)

Utterly flooring compilation of electronic and contemporary music from Brazil recorded between 1978-1992.

John Gomez, who wrote the inspirational liner notes for Music from Memory’s retrospective Suso Saiz compilation, presents the end result of months of hard work and dedication. Showcasing his talent for a unique type of cultural archaeology, Gomez collates seventeen recordings from the fringes of Brazil’s rich musical tapestry and brings new life to a pivotal point in the history of the Amazon.

• Becker / Stegmann / Zeumer – S/T [Music From Memory] (2016)

Music from Memory’s final release of 2016 is an EP of works by a German trio formed in the city of Wuppertal, in the late eighties. A one off and unique project, Becker, Stegmann and Zeumer were asked to produce an album of recorded material after a string of successful concerts celebrating the work of local poet Else Lasker-Schüler (1869–1945).

• Gigi Masin -Talk To The Sea [Music From Memory] (2014)

Part of only a small and very much underground music scene in his hometown of Venice, Gigi Masin self released two modestly pressed LP’s ‘Wind’ (1986) and ‘Wind Collector’ (1991) and appeared along side Charles Hayward for the Sub Rosa compilation LP “Les Nouvelles Musiques De Chambre Volume 2” (1988).

Having met with little commercial success in Italy at the time, Gigi Masin’s solo albums remained for the most part totally unknown. His music has though in recent years, and seemingly by pure word of mouth, developed almost something of a cult following.

• Dream Dolphin – Gaia: Selected Ambient & Downtempo Works (1996 – 2003) (2023)

Gaia: Selected Ambient & Downtempo Works (1996-2003)’ is a new in-depth compilation of works by Japanese musician Dream Dolphin.

Co-compiled by long-time friend of the label Eiji Taniguchi, it draws from a vast discography of music oscillating between IDM, Pop and Ambient. First appearing on Eiji’s compilation ’Heisei No Oto – Japanese Left-field Pop From The CD Age (1989-1996)’, this selection of rediscoveries, further shines a light on the singular musician known as Dream Dolphin and her place in Japan’s rich electronic music legacy.

Dream Dolphin was originally an Ambient and Electronic project by the Japanese artist referred to simply as Noriko, who moved from studying classic Italian songs as a child, to increasingly being inspired by artists such as PIL, Yellow Magic Orchestra, KLF and movies such as ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ and ‘Le Grand Bleu’. The music she released under the name Dream Dolphin, from the age of sixteen, is unique and versatile in style, encompassing Ambient, IDM, Techno, Trance and even Drum & Bass, whilst fusing natural sounds with her own spoken word lyrics.