New lifeform

Lifeform Project began four years ago as a means of demonstration. A close-knit group of experimental electronic music enthusiasts — including Nathan Jones, Melvin Hale, Osaga and current organizational coordinator Grant "Solace" Aaron — saw and filled a void for live electronic performance outlets. "People were dragging out their old analog gear, Commadores, Amigas, playing the range of noise, bleep and more rhythmic music in the dead cold," says Aaron of the group's sessions, which have taken place at the Earl, the original Eyedrum, the Masquerade, and Teaspace.

Now, having drawn local electronic composers from their bedrooms, Aaron hopes to utilize the foundation for promoting the Atlanta underground to the international electronic community through an online catalog at www.lifeformproject.com.

Eschewing the traditional label system, Lifeform's redesigned website (launching Oct. 28) will offer 12 EPs with art in highest quality formats convenient for digital DJs and music aficionados. Among the artists who will be represented are Diagram of Suburban Chaos, Larvae, Brian Montero, Jena Paradies, Solace and Inceptdate, among others. The sound spectrum will include bass sculptures, cut-up hip-hop, folk-flecked lattices of rhythmic melody, dub-drenched samples and minimal Teutonic techno.

For Aaron, Lifeform's redefinition is natural progression. "I came up with the name originally to describe some ambient compositions," he says, "but it also was meant as a term in to which you could read your own changing meanings. Now the Lifeform Project is a forum for positive human collaboration."Lifeform Project's Netlabel Launch takes place at the 5 Spot Fri.-Sat., Oct. 29-30, 7 p.m. Free but donations suggested. Inceptdate & Solace appear live on WRAS 88.5 Thurs., Oct. 28, 6 p.m.