Nautilis - Are You An Axolotl (Planet Mu)

One day in a record shop, I saw a Planet Mu logo on a record with incomprehensible green reflection. Being a fan of pretty much everything Mike Paradinas puts out on his label, I grabbed the vinyl as one of those random finds. Back at home I played the record over and over. I was struck by its ingenuity of combining instrumental hip hop beats with jazzy breaks and glitchy elements of IDM. But it was the melodies and the intelligent micro rhythms that kept on ringing long after in my ears. Skyler McGlothlin's fun and confident approach to creating his first LP, Are You An Axolotl, is still refreshing and exciting to listen six years later [and not just once in a while]. Based out of Texas, McGlothlin followed up his critically acclaimed debut with a second full length, Sketches. In 2005, however, McGlothlin moved to Florida based Merck (RIP, sigh...), and produced more downtempo and instrumental hip hop, under Malcom Kipe alias. The two quick releases were Breakspiracy Theories and Lit. I thoroughly enjoyed both, but must admit that I dig his Nautilis sound a lot more. It's a bit tighter, DSP-driven, production that continuous to unravel new elements within each listen. Since Lit, however, McGlothlin has been silent. I attempt to catch up with Skyler to see what he's been up to, and if we'll hear from him again. And in case you were wondering, yes... I am ... actually... an axolotl.

myspace.com/nautilis | myspace.com/childrenofmu

Two and a Half Questions with Skyler McGlothlin

You've been quiet lately. Not including the mini limited EP on Cactus Island Recordings, "Stonch", what have you been working on?
Shapes Have Fangs.. My laptop was stolen in 2006 and this inspired me to quit making beats for a while. Since then I've been focusing all my time on our band Shapes Have Fangs.

Who do you like more, Nautilis or Malcom Kipe; and more importantly, why?
Nautilis, because it is a collection of information that originated from 5th dimensional information sound waves that were retrieved by pleiadian spirit crystals given to me by Billy Meier.

What are your feelings on your earlier work when you listen to the album now?
I'm quite surprised by some tracks and can not listen to others. Certain tracks from Axolotl are used every day to 4th dimension wave gates.

Are you an axolotl?
Well the title is based on 'Axolotl' by Julio Cortázar. The short story deals with existentialism - the individual is entirely free, and, therefore, ultimately responsible.I am not an axolotl, I am human. But I do not claim to be 'of earth'.

myspace.com/nautilis | nautilis.net