Rob Dougan
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Rob Dougan, who started as Rob D, is an Australian 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 mix)", popularized by 1999's The Matrix soundtrack, and later on in theatrical trailers for 2004's Blade: Trinity and 2006's UltraViolet. In 2002, 7 years after its initial release he released the track in the UK on his debut album Furious Angels. He was born in Sydney, Australia and moved to London, UK ca. 1990.
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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 mix". 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 mix)" 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 the 2003's Matrix sequel The Matrix Reloaded.
In 2002 in the UK, and 2003 in the rest of the world, he eventually released his debut album Furious Angels to mixed responses [1] and some surprise from the new tone of his work, as well as from his own Leonard Cohenesque gravel-voiced vocals. Later in 2003, a two-disc re-release of Furious Angels featured all-instrumental versions on the second disc.
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 "antigenre". Currently, Dougan is working on a
second album, in addition to two orchestral projects.
Discography
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 Matrix trilogy).
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 "Chateau" (an original track).
Selected songs showcasing style
- "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.).
- "Chateau" (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 album. Vocal version offers plaintive, powerful lyrics)
- "Left Me for Dead" (Furious Angels album. 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", & Instrumental (Furious Angels. Virtually all orchestral elements creating some romantic modern orchestra music)
- "There's Only Me" (instrumental and vocal versions. From the "Furious Angels" album. Used by "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" as theme.)
See also
External links
General links
- Guardian's 2003 article - Good overview, many useful quotes.
- IGN's 2003 interview - All about his involvement with the Matrix series' soundtracks.
- Rob Dougan's composer filmography @ IMDb - tracks use (incomplete)
- 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.
Fansite links
- robdougan.org fan site - Fansite
- Rob Dougan Forum - Fan forum
