Rob Dougan

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Rob Dougan, aka Rob D, (born in Sydney, Australia in 1965) is a genre-blending music composer. Mixing the sound of orchestral film music, the beats of club Trip Hop, and bluesy vocals, he is only tangentially relatable to electronic music. He was known primarily for his 1995 breakthrough single "Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino Variation)", popularized by 1999's The Matrix soundtrack, and later on in theatrical trailers for 2004's Blade: Trinity and 2006's UltraViolet. In 2006, seven years after its initial release he released the track in the UK on his debut album Furious Angels.

Contents 1 History 2 Style 3 Discography 3.1 Studio albums 3.2 Singles, EPs 3.3 Selected songs showcasing style 4 See also 5 External links 5.1 General links 5.2 Fansite links

[edit] History

Ca. 1990, his friend Rollo brought Rob Dougan from Australia to London. From 1991 to 1995, "Rob D" was a DJ and remix artist. In 1994 his remixes started charting in the UK. He also released his first own single, "Hard Times".

In 1995, his hit single "Clubbed to Death" gave him a recognized name in the UK dance club scene. He produced almost a dozen remixes of it, including the fan-favourite "Kurayamino Variation". His label Mo'Wax Records was so pleased they commissioned him the follow-up "Clubbed to Death 2" (later the bonus track on the album).

But in 1996, his new track "Furious Angels" (which should have heralded his first album) didn't please his then label; Dougan eventually released it as a single in 1998 with his new label Cheeky Records, just a few months before Cheeky went bankrupt, stopping the production on the album about to be released. Dougan toiled six more years, doing remixes and licensing his tracks, in order to self-produce the album exactly like he intended it: backed by a full orchestra and a full choir.

In 1999, his exposure increased dramatically when his "Clubbed To Death (Kurayamino Variation)" was featured on the soundtrack of The Matrix, but this hit remained the only public face of then "Rob D". He has also provided remixes of songs by U2, Moby and Kylie Minogue, and contributed two more tracks to the soundtrack of 2003's Matrix sequel The Matrix Reloaded, Chateau and Kung Fu. Also on The Matrix Reloaded DVD the background movie has the I'm Not Driving Anymore Instrumental soundtrack.

In 2002 in the UK, and 2003 in the rest of the world, he eventually released his début album Furious Angels to mixed responses [1] and some surprise from the new tone of his work, as well as from his own Leonard Cohen-esque gravel-voiced vocals. Later in 2003, a two-disc re-release of Furious Angels featured all-instrumental versions on the second disc.

Dougan is currently writing "a couple of songs" for Sugababes, and working on two albums of his own — one original, one classical.[2]

[edit] Style

Dougan's music is difficult to pin down into a single genre. He obviously composes with a significant dance club-influenced beat, but with major symphonic elements such as full-sized string orchestras, and his own, rough, alternative-rock-like lyrics. When asked, Rob Dougan's usual response is that the album is "anti-genre". Currently, Dougan is living in London, and has three records to come out shortly, one of which is the 'second album'.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

• (2002) Furious Angels
  • 1-CD (14 tracks) on the basic edition.
  • 1-CD (15 tracks) on the UK edition (bonus "Clubbed to Death 2")
  • 2-CD (15+10 tracks) on the 2003 re-release (the second disc provides the instrumental versions of the first disc, for those who disliked Dougan's gravelly voice or want to hear the pieces in the fashion they were used on movies like Driven and the Matrix trilogy).

[edit] Singles, EPs

• (1995) "Hard Times" - Single, various remixes.
• (1995) "Clubbed to Death" - Single, many variant EPs ranging from 2 to 8 remixes.
• (1998) "Furious Angels" - Single, many variant EPs ranging from 2 to 7 remixes.
• (1999) The Matrix (OST) has "Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino mix)" credited to his then DJ alias "Rob D".
• (2003) The Matrix Reloaded (OST) has "Furious Angels [instrumental]" and "Château" (an original track).

[edit] Selected songs showcasing style

"Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino mix)" 

The classic featuring big beats and orchestral themes. Used in The Matrix "Woman In The Red Dress" Morpheus-Neo training sequence: "The Matrix is a system Neo, that system is our enemy... Were you listening to me Neo? Or were you looking at the woman in the red dress?".

"I'm Not Driving Anymore" 

Instrumental and vocal versions. From Furious Angels album, appeared in Driven, a movie about racing. Instrumental version was used in the trailer for The Matrix Reloaded. Instrumental version was also used as the theme for of Law and Order in the UK. Also used in the opening video montage of the New York Knicks for the 2006-2007 NBA season.

"Furious Angels" 

Features big beats, strings and other orchestral overtones. From The Matrix Reloaded initial fight scene between Neo against several agents, to buy time for the other Zion captains and crew (such as Morpheus and Niobe) to escape. Quite similar in theme with "Château" below.

"Château" 

Features beats, strings and brass. From The Matrix Reloaded fight scene of Neo against the Merovingian's henchmen. Fast pace, atmospheric, modern instrumental.

"Born Yesterday" 

Also from Furious Angels. Vocal version offers plaintive, powerful lyrics.

"Left Me for Dead" 

Again, from Furious Angels. Vocal version poses some angry lyrics alongside strings and deep bass beats.

"Clubbed to Death 2" 

Furious Angels exclusive track. A more driving version than the 1 counterpart).

"Will You Follow Me" and Instrumental 

From Furious Angels. Virtually all orchestral elements creating some romantic modern orchestra music.

"There's Only Me" 

Instrumental and vocal versions. From "Furious Angels". Used by Law and Order: Criminal Intent as theme.

[edit] See also

• Matrix trilogy: The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions

[edit] External links

[edit] General links

• Sick of dance music, The Guardian, August 29, 2003 — Good overview, many useful quotes.
• IGN's 2003 interview - All about his involvement with the Matrix series' soundtracks.
• Rob Dougan at the Internet Movie Database
• Rob Dougan in films, TV, etc. - Illustrated list of the uses of Dougan's music. [English section of a larger Japanese site]
• RDCD.com - Rob Dougan Compact Disc - Up-to-date illustrated Rob Dougan discography.

[edit] Fansite links

• www.robdougan.org - Fansite
• Rob Dougan Forum - Fansite forum