Music
Meet Michael Kucyk, king of obscure Aussie records
The Efficient Space label head and lover of DIY records of the '80s and '90s chats to us before his Red Bull Radio hosting duties.
Esteemed radio host, curator and record enthusiast Michael Kucyk has been broadcasting his show Noise In My Head for over 12 years now, first starting on Melbourne community broadcaster 3RRR 102.7FM in 2005 and later moving onto London network NTS.
A stalwart in the Australian music scene, Kucyk works closely with esteemed record label heads, DJs, producers and record collectors and features them on Noise In My Head, digging up obscure, rare and lesser-known musicians and albums to play on the show.
In 2015, this led Kucyk to launch the record label Efficient Space, a reissue label that focuses on unearthing and compiling DIY recordings from the Australian post-punk or avant-garde scenes.
February this year saw the release of the Oz Waves compilation curated by DJ Steele Bonus, a ten-track mix of post-punk electronics of the ’80s. Last year, Efficient Space also released Midnight Spares, compiled by András Fox and Instant Peterson and shining a light on overlooked avant-pop and electronic works of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Ahead of his hosting Red Bull Radio’s pop-up at Red Bull Music Academy Weekender this Sunday, we had a chat to Kucyk about all things Noise In My Head, Efficient Space and what records he’s spinning at the moment.
You’ve been running your radio show Noise In My Head for 12 years now, how do you keep yourself inspired and passionate about it after all these years?
I would be lying if I told you I didn't have a meltdown before every show but it always works out in the end. It helps that there's a proliferation of quality modern music as well as an infinite amount of music to be discovered from the past. My job here isn't done yet.
How do you discover new music to champion? You’re a respected curator in the music scene - whose curation do you personally respect?
I catch things in orbit. When I'm admiring curators, I think of RVNG and Vladimir Ivkovic. RVNG is a superb combo of forward-thinking contemporary music from all over the map, and reissues that are considered and meaningful contributions. Vladimir runs Offen Music from Düsseldorf's outer limits. He's totally on his own trip. He's introduced me to tonnes while bringing records that I misestimated as an adolescent - UT, Dome - back into my cycle.
Being an avid collector, how many vinyl records do you own at this point? What’s your favourite?
Enough for it to be an issue, especially having moved house four times in four years. I'm trying to adopt the less is more approach. I don't have favourites but there's a box of regular home listens - µ-Ziq's Somerset Avenue Tracks, Steve Hiett's Down On The Road By The Beach, Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left, Stereolab, Testpattern, This Mortal Coil's It'll End In Tears, FSOM, Whadya Want?, Prod, Slugfuckers etc.
How do you know if a record is valuable when you’re crate-digging if you’re unfamiliar with the artist? Is there research involved before crate-digging?
Depends on what you mean by valuable as there's plenty of unlistenable records that are considered valuable in a monetary sense. Cheap records are as fun. You can gravitate to an interesting record by its cover art, record label, producer, session players or instrumentation (experience and accumulated knowledge does help here). Digital digging is cool too - there's plays for days in the Bandcamp wormhole.
What is your mantra or modus operandi in running Efficient Space? What is one ethic that each release must adhere to?
To be patient. Locate the artists and exhaust all options in the pursuit of original masters. Get it sounding right before giving Steele Bonus a shout for the package design. Develop releases that should exist, but not as landfill.
Efficient Space records
© Efficient Space
Midnite Spares Vol. 2 will be released soon - with András and Instant Peterson compiling the first Volume, what can we expect of the second? Who will be compiling it?
It's progressing slowly but Midnite Spares' intended sequel will fast forward the timeline to '90s/'00s dance and dub. It pulls heavily from CD, much of which has evaded the digital documentation it deserves. Those larrikins are again responsible for the selections.
Why do you feel it’s necessary for music-lovers to hear these lesser known, often avant-garde artists from a couple of decades ago? Do you hope to invigorate a love for the musical past of Australia? How do you advise music-lovers look to the future of Australian music?
There's so much emphasis on international music. It's important that Australians see inwards as we've got such an industrious musical history. The future of our music will be well chronicled.
You’re hosting Sunday on Red Bull Radio’s Weekender pop-up, what can we expect?
It depends on what kind of mood I'll be in to be honest.
Who are five young artists you’re excited to see take off at the moment?
I need more music in my life from CS + Kreme and their recent Wichelroede tape companion Yu Su, Carla Dal Forno, Rings Around Saturn and the Regelbau crew.
Which Weekender event are you keen to see?
Talk To The Breeze featuring Japanese minimal percussionist Midori Takada, Wilson Tanner and Krakatau, plus No Fixed Address and Coloured Stone's dual headline show at 107 Projects. I'm wishing I still called Sydney home this week.
Michael Kucyk will be hosting Red Bull Radio's pop-up at Red Bull Music Academy Weekender this Sunday, September 3 from 107 Projects.
Head here for more info on Efficient Space.
