The Heart And Soul Of A New Machine

Bogdan Raczynski, whose musical output up to now has been some all-well-and-good skittery techno on Aphex Twin’s Rephlex label, has just released a bona fide masterpiece.

If Steven Spielberg had half a brain, he would have hired Bogdan to compose the score for A.I. — Artificial Intelligence. At least one aspect of that movie would have been right. With the new myloveilove, Raczynski has captured and recorded the crystalline heartbeats of a romantic iBook. This is basically a collection of love songs for the cast of Blade Runner, and each track (all seventeen of them titled “myloveilove”) is a touching lullaby you’re embarrassed to like.

Raczynski breaks some cardinal rules of his usual electronic genre here, taking risks that few except maybe the aforementioned Richard D. James have taken before; things like singing and using traditional instruments like accordions and trumpets alongside the techy grit of analogue and digital noisemakers.

Bogdan’s voice is so naïve-sounding that it would be hilarious if it weren’t so damn cute, and the lyrics match it with gems like “I want to make love to you in the forest” and “When you smile, I am taken to a foreign land.” It sounds too saccharine here maybe, but I promise when you hear it you’ll have to sigh or something.

VICE recently had the chance to communicate with Bogdan. He’s a Polish native who has lived around the globe and spoke from an as-yet-undiscovered location.

VICE: You were homeless at one point, right?

Raczynski

: I had a brief stint of that in Tokyo, sleeping in the sex district because it was always lit and warm. Getting intentionally lost in such a racist country was good for my mind and heart. I’d train myself with hours of Tetris and sleep on the streets waiting for places to open up so I could eat. No complaints, though.

Where is your favorite place in the world?

My favorite place is always where I am. Today I’m happiest here in my secret hideout, partaking in human struggle while chewing on marinated fish and rice.

What lead you to write an album of love songs?

Sneaking kisses and cuddles in the back seat, waking up to love and not loneliness. The reality of arguments and being an asshole. Our mistakes and hopes.

This is the first time you’ve recorded vocals.

I used to use robots that I’d have my buddies build for me, but this time I rigged up some devices that would constantly record. Then I’d lament and scream and yelp like the pathetic lover that I am. I’d go through the archives and snip it all up at the end of the day.

What’s your favorite love song?

Chopin’s “Fantasie Impromptu—Opus 66”! It’s the fundamental soundtrack of chasing after beautiful lovelies in the spring grass, giggling when you spot a glimpse of her flesh while you play a game of hide and seek.

Are you in love right now?

We are.

JERRY MCPHEERSON