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Anyone with even a vague
hankering to know some of the outstanding electronica and related beats and pieces that have shaped Melbourne (Australia,
not Florida) over the past 20-odd years have a formidable task ahead of 'em. And one name you should brush up on first of
all is that of Steve Law.
Starting out with Ollie Olsen - who rode shot-gun with his bands Whirlwirld, Orchestra Of Skin & Bone and No,
from the 1970s and '80s, and virtually introduced electronic muzak to this vital city - through the more eclectic, experimental
philanderings of Lung U.P.C. in the early '90s, the Detroit-inspired musings of Voiteck, Soulenoid and TR-Storm, and on into
the hip hop asides touted by Damian Stephens (Nod/Isnod), the live mess-ups of the LN Elektronische Ensemble, and the guys
behind Curse Ov Dialect...
All these people are just the tip of the Melbournian iceberg.
Over the past two decades, too, there's been that aforementioned integral Steve
Law - without doubt one of the most vital, innovative and consistent producers this prolific city has conceived.
Respected by his peers, and one of the truly nice guys of the local circuit, Law also continues to make cutting edge
electronica within a variety of projects, most notably as Zen Paradox.... a solo production outfit he's utilised for some
15 years now.
Andrez (a.k.a. Little Nobody) and Brian (Milkcrate Man)
- before they even dreamed of setting up IF? Records, let alone their ulterior aliases - first caught a Zen Paradox live
set in 1993.
It was a 3PBS benefit gig in May that year, where he played
second fiddle to better known acts (at that time) Snog, This Digital Ocean, and Screwtape. To Brian's and Andrez's
minds, however, this diminutive solo artist hiding behind a stack of rack-mounted gear was the definitive highlight of
a night in which the music was great, and the amber fluid flowed rather nicely too...
The boys were smitten.
It went without saying that the IF? trio
of Andrez, Brian and Mateusz settled on asking Steve to be one of the first local Melbourne artists to contribute a track
to their first 'Zeitgeist' compilation in 1995.
Steve also headlined at the IF? Omniglobe rave parties
at Global Village in Footscray in 1995/96, as well as at several Zoetrope sessions at the Punters Club in Fitzroy, often working
live in collaboration with Voiteck as The Sonic Voyagers.
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