Mathias 'Lena' Delplanque's adventure began in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in 1973. Rocked by the sounds of disco, reggae, zouk and Congolese rumba,
he began his music studies (organ and piano) at a very young age. In an atypical way, his musical horizons open up radically: Tom Waits, Art of Noise, Public Enemy, Pierre Henry, Edgar Varèse, Stockhausen... His first compositions were born out of tape recorders, using makeshift overdubbing.
Then, of course, digital tools came along, allowing him to release various projects: Bidlo, whose debut album 'Bilder' came out on the English label 'Harmsonic' in 2000; electro-acoustic compositions and sound installations ('Ma chambre quand je n'y suis pas' - or 'My Room When I'm Not in It', 'la plinthe' - or the baseboard) under the name of Mathias Delplanque.
His stumbling upon Fauklner's writings, especially 'Light of August' gave birth to Lena, an alias inspired by the wanderings of one character, Lena Grove.
The debut album 'Lane' came out in 2002 and featured a mix of deep digital dub, primitive art, and something close to the German minimal techno-dub sound. He has also started to work with Charlélie Couture, writing and producing two tracks for his next album.
(Biography Last updated 30 September 2003)
Release date 1 October 2004
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Lena's second opus... Strikes of melodies inherited from Scientist and Augustus Pablo spurt over more impressive rhythms (binary or wobbly).
With the help of Black Sifichi and Tablloyd, assuming the roles of MCs, Lena has transformed into a hi-fi sound system. At the crossroads of the various influences he has absorbed ... [more]
Release date 27 September 2002
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In order to properly represent their catalogue with its "ecclectism into the groove system" touch, Quatermass proudly present an adventurous label sampler, mixed with liquid elasticity by B'N'Gs DJ Faskil.
Close in spirit to the excitement and spontaneity of a pirate radio program, the tracks demonstrate the label's philosophy and form ... [more]
Release date 1 June 2002
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The ghost in Lena's machine has possessed it's share of echo chambers and mixing boards - it was there long ago during the delirious sessions at The Ark, where Monsieur Perry would taunt it's spirit with a fearless and life-affirming Caribbean insouciance; it's been there when Adrian Sherwood would unexpectedly ... [more]
