In very much the same spirit, a new sonic lab complex, STOOR - located in a basement space formerly used as a government testing agency and as a fallout shelter - has opened within the heart of Rotterdam. This generously reinforced space, open 24/7 and with no stylistic limitations placed on its guests, will be available to intrepid electronic producers (novice and veteran alike). Whether visitors arrive with plans for mixing, post-production, or building new works from scratch, this environment will provide them an unparalleled opportunity to ‘stretch out’ creatively; to peel back any lingering inhibitions and to therefore discover aspects of their sonic approach that they have not fully explored before.
Specifically designed to encourage improvisation and expressive surprises, STOOR features a number of distinct elements that are unique not just to the Netherlands, but to the entirety of international electronic music culture. It offers an unparalleled selection of music-making tools, housing a number of highly rare vintage pieces as well as modern standbys - that is to say, everything from classic keyboard synths to the newest and most advanced modular systems. Coupled with the labs’ round-the-clock nature, the lack of a “pre-set” configuration for the tools on hand allows artists a greater role in the design of their own workspace, and will lead to a fluid sense of interaction between multiple producers working within the same confines.
STOOR will not just act as a venue for spontaneous and improvised expression, but will also be a space in which a special type of documentary process takes place. Thanks to an on-site vinyl lathe, limited edition recordings of each resident producer’s work at STOOR can be created with a turnaround time significantly quicker than that of conventional pressing plants, and are subsequently archived on site. Each hand-numbered edition of 50 records will be housed in 450gs sleeves with magnetic flaps and info pocket, complemented by anti-static / anti-dust audiophile inner sleeves. Simply put, STOOR presents a chance for producers to store their ephemeral “magic moments” and happy accidents on a highly sophisticated and high fidelity physical format.
