400 PPM: Techno's Alien Presence and the Culture Clash of Electronic Music
Shawn O'Sullivan, also recognized as 400 PPM, Vapauteen, Civil Duty, and Further Reductions, is set to unveil his first album, 'Fit for Purpose,' under Guy Brewer's Avian label. In an interview with Artribune, he reflects on his musical journey, starting with gabber and breakcore at age 17, transitioning to jungle, drum & bass, and dub around 1996-97, and finally embracing techno by 1999. Inspired by figures like Marc Acardipane and the sounds of Belgium and Italy, O'Sullivan's creativity was influenced by fanzines such as The Skreem and Datacide. While he was not fond of early 2000s New York club culture—aside from Wierd Party—he acknowledges the city's nightlife's impact on his sound. The album includes visuals from Ernie Glam's 'Fabulosity,' and O'Sullivan characterizes his music as a blend of heavy and psychedelic elements, highlighted in 'New Expiration,' which features vocals from Rose E. Kross.
Key facts
- Shawn O'Sullivan (400 PPM) releases debut album 'Fit for Purpose' on Avian.
- O'Sullivan cites Marc Acardipane as his musical hero.
- Album artwork from Ernie Glam's 'Fabulosity' by Alexis Dibiasio.
- O'Sullivan's early influences include gabber, breakcore, jungle, drum & bass, and dub.
- He shifted to techno and electronic music around 1999.
- Pre-internet fanzines like The Skreem, Datacide, and The Deadly Systems shaped his sound.
- O'Sullivan disliked New York's early 2000s club culture, except Wierd Party.
- Track 'New Expiration' features vocals by Rose E. Kross (his wife Katie) and draws on 1970s-80s San Francisco punk.
- Claudio Simonetti is cited as an early influence.
- A.G. Cook released a version of Aphex Twin's 'Windowlicker' on Soundcloud in late July.
- GFOTY (PC Music) acknowledged Scooter's influence in a past interview.
- Aphex Twin included remixes of Marc Acardipane's 'We Have Arrived' on 'Classics' in 1994.
Entities
Artists
- Shawn O'Sullivan
- 400 PPM
- Vapauteen
- Civil Duty
- Further Reductions
- Guy Brewer
- Marc Acardipane
- A.G. Cook
- Aphex Twin
- GFOTY
- DJ Entox
- Deadly Buda
- Ernie Glam
- Alexis Dibiasio
- Rose E. Kross
- Katie
- Claudio Simonetti
- Carlotta Petracci
Institutions
- Avian
- PC Music
- Praxis Records
- Field Day
- Soundcloud
- Wu Magazine
- C2CMLN
- Artribune
- White (agency)
Locations
- New York
- United States
- London
- United Kingdom
- Belgium
- Italy
- San Francisco
- South London
- Midwest