Intuitive Music

Gez Varley and Mark Bell, LFO

Mark Bell and Gez Varley met in Leeds, UK, in 1989 while being students in a curse of graphic design and photography. In fact, they knew each other from their old days of breakdance, when we were from rival crews. Mark Bell was yet involved in music, and both of them was very interested at the time in acid house stuff like Phuture and Chicago Trax , inspired by labels like Transmat and Trax Records.

In 1989, Bell and Varley started producing a serie of tracks as LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) influenced by electro and hip hop and got to call the attention of Warp Records, getting their first single “LFO” released. Before the release of this single, the duo appeared in a 12″ along with Tricky Disco, featuring a couple of tracks by LFO co-writted by early member of the band Martin Williams. One of these tracks was later released in the Warp “Pioneers of the Hypnotic Groove” compilation. The “LFO” single became an anthem in the UK clubs, and later reached U.K. top charts with sales of 120.000. After this surprising success, the duo was one of the first bands to sign for a whole album with Warp, and recorded their first album “Frequencies”, released in 1991. The result was a mix of influences from Kraftwerk and Cabaret Voltaire to the danceable beats from Detroit scene of Derrick May, Juan Atkins, and Kevin Saunderson. “Frequencies”, which included an extra “Avon Calling” track in the vinyl, was a big hit and drawn the lines of the early 90´s British techno, becoming a major influence for many artists and producers of the decade.

In 1922, LFO collaborated with the Canadian minimal techno producer Richie Hawtin on “Loop”. Later, Karl Bartos from Kraftwerk invited the duo to visit him to Germany for working together in a track that would be released in 1992 under the name of Bartos Elektric Musik. The result was a single containing 2 mixes by each band from both band’s stuff. Sadly, the tracks are still unreleased due to disputes between the artists labels.

“Tied Up” was released in 1994 as double 12″ and CDM and LFO appeared live in London in numerous parties along with artists such Laurent Garnier, Aphex Twin, Autechre and The Sabres of Paradise. During this period, the duo also did numerous re-mixes to artists such as Yello Magic Orchestra, Laurent Garnier, Nightmares on Wax, Afrika Bambaataa and Sabres of Paradise.

In 1996, LFO released their and awaited second album “Advance”, which caused the unsatisfaction of the duo who were heading for different music interests, following their split. Gez Varley used the name of G-Man releasing an acclaimed “Kushti” album in 1996, and “Presents Early Montana” in 1997. He has also remixed to Inmersion and Aural Expansion.

Mark Bell started a solo career under the nickname of Speedjack with the recording of “Surge” album. Bell collabored with Marshall Jefferson in a project called The Vibe released in the “Outer Limits” compilation. Preceded by a number of LFO remixes a works of Bjork’s singles, Bell started a long-term and musical relationship with the Icelandic singer as his “electronics and programming squire”, including work in the albums “Homogenic” (1997), “Dancing In the Dark” (2000), and “Medúlla” (2004).