ORFEON GAGARIN is the Miguel A. Ruiz’s main project, a veteran electronic musician from Madrid (Spain).
Ruiz’s music has been the best-kept secret of Spanish underground electronics since the early eighties until now, although he´s not as well known internationally as other contemporary musicians (EsplendorGeométrico, Francisco López, or Diseño Corbusier, to name but a few).
In 1986
he released his first cassette on his own (now legendary) Toracic Tapes
label. Since then he has remained active at the international network of
independent electronic music and has collaborated with musicians from
different countries such as Cisfinitum (Codachrom), Siegmar Fricke
(Efficient Refineries) Dieter Mauson, Francisco López, Stefano Barban,
etc.
He has composed many solo albums in all formats, especially on
cassette, using several aliases: Funeral Souvenir, Exhaustor, Michel Des
Airlines, Ventral Metaphor, apart from Orfeon Gagarin. His first vinyl
LP was «Encuentros en la TerceraEdad» (1991) produced by the German
electronics master AsmusTietchens on his label Hamburger
Musikgesellschaft. In addition, he has published with other respected
international labels like Discos Esplendor Geométrico, Old Europa Café,
Aquarelist, Monochrome Vision, Menstrual Recordings, etc.
Fascinated
by the sonic possibilities of analog and digital synthesizers and other
studio techniques, Ruiz’s style is fantastic and surprising, with an
imagination that can be considered as overwhelming. Science, technology,
Soviet space race, Borges, surrealism, clinical pathologies, black
humour or extra-planetary life…, whatever eccentricity has a place
within the microcosm of this artist. He has a wide range of musical
references: post-industrial music from the eighties recorded in home
studios, German cosmic music from the seventies, pioneers of
electro-acoustic music, Japanese techno pop, old and strange film
soundtracks, retro-futurism, mutant pop, ambient, etc.
At present,
Ruiz is experiencing one of the most active and best creative moments,
performing more than ever and being discovered by a new generation of
young Spanish electronic musicians who look for his works and admire
him.
VOCES A 45 is his latest album, a vinyl LP format with 9 tracks
recorded in 2018 at his own Toracic Studio. It´s the seventh work as
Orfeon Gagarín. A limited edition of only 250 copies in white vinyl,
co-produced by Geometrik & Munster records. There is a version that
includes a CD-R with the album in digital format plus four exclusive
extra tracks that are not in the vinyl!