Roel Meelkop (born 1963) is a Dutch visual / sound artist based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. After studying at the prestigious Willem de Kooning Academy, Meelkop pursued a studio practice involving analog synthesis and manipulated sound engineering techniques. His earliest published output was during the mid 1980s experimental electronic collective THU20, which was documented by the legendary 80s tape label Midas Tapes. THU20 members included artists Jac van Bussel, Peter Duimelinks, Jos Smolders, Guido Doesborg and later including Frans de Waard (Kapotte Muziek / founder of Korm Plastics). Since then, Roel Meelkop has spent the past 25 years developing his methodology as a solo artist and collaborative member of various projects, releasing dozens of records and considered one of the forerunners of the experimental electronic / glitch renaissance.
His recent tape release, obviously titled (K)7, is more an exploration of the format to which its name is dedicated. Meelkop pushes the boundaries that analog tape has constructed, creating the idea of dense space" between the rushes of synthesis methodology that crashes around the parameters. Both sides vary in depth between Meelkops signature organic sounding electronics and subsonic harmonic test tones that make this release the most unique within his discography. Edition of 75." - Robert & Leopold.
After nearly a decade of false starts, multiple game plans veering off the rails, and a handful of shattered hopes and/or dreams, the odyssey is finally complete—the new Fusetron site is here.
This is the first phase of a multipart rollout that will span the next few months: the currently browsable stock includes miscellaneous new releases from the past 8+ months (we have a lot of catching up to do), plus approximately a third of our backstock. Note that we’ve reduced/slashed prices on many titles and will continue to do so in order to make room for new stock. We’ll also be expanding / tweaking / improving / debugging the site itself (for example, we still have work to do on the automated international postage system, not to mention the inevitable inventory discrepancies that come with transferring an ancient and massive database to a new system).
Over the next few months, as we take inventory, clean house, and delve into our storage, we will be uploading thousands of additional items, gradually, on a near-daily basis. This will include the majority of the LPs, as well as many titles, in all formats, once thought long-gone. Many currently “sold out” items are likely to resurface.
Finally, once our general backstock is up (probably in the next two or three months) we’ll begin making our extensive stockpile of rarities available online for the first time: tons of random out-of-print titles, "deadstock," warehouse finds, secondhand collectibles, etc., accumulated over the past few decades.
Frequent/returning customers will be getting early access to these items. Details to follow on how this will work (a priority mailing list? a 'frequent flyer'-like program?), but it will not be based on dollars spent. We want to reward those who consistently support us, especially in the discogs marketplace era (to those who show up trying to poach five copies of a one-off rarity, and nothing else, ever… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ).
So—we suggest you take some time to dig through the site—even we’ve been surprised by what’s been turning up, and there’s much more to come.
