Dear friends,

It has been awhile since an update to amtrax.net. It's a crazy time right now and many distractions have occurred over the last couple of years. I would like to take a moment to reflect on the progress that I've made with music during this time.

• I've rigorously experimented, reworked and developed a new live PA. The PA has gone through over six completely different configurations and set ups since the conception of amtrax.
• I've recently started mixing records after a four year break.
• I've been collaborating with several of my close friends DJ Rin the chemist, Myles Egner, Shawn Robinson, Kenneth Scott & Phaze B.
• I've written over 700 Loops and bits, have only finished maybe 20 tracks and have only released a small handful.
• This has really been an epic journey. Some of you have been there to witness some of the collaborations and magic happen in the studio and on the dance floor. You've been at the live PA's that have taken place in Fairfield, Iowa City, Champaign and San Francisco. Perhaps you where there when the trains are passing by in the depot build buried three hours deep in the mix. These are all moments that continue to fuel my everlasting search in sound.

Download - > Hydrogen - Live in IC 2003

Searching is something that I've been doing a lot in the last three years while in Champaign. I've been researching various ways to record, generate and play sound. I've experimented with shaping sine waves, filtering white noise, testing plugins to find the hottest digital subtractive synthesis, really grinding to get a perfect sound. However, until recently I've realized that I've been lost during this whole time. Why do I feel the need to keep looking outward when I have all the answers and ideas within myself?

Perhaps the difficulty comes from the inability to set goals or maybe I am biased by the massive amounts of minimal techno that I've been pummeling my ear drums with. Realizing this has inspired me to take a step back. I've been taking some notes and started to re-factor what all this really means in terms of my progress.

With this reflection in mind, I've decided to close AMTRAX.NET. It will go into deep hibernation. I must close it down to stay focused while I restructure for another phase of music.

I will also be hibernating in the alias hydrogen. This has been a name that has brought me where I am today. I've used it from the moment I started mixing wax and doing live performances. However, it is time to take that experience and breath life into a new form. One that feels closer to home for me. So it is time to turn over a new page in the book and not be tied down with the past.

A new name has been selected to represent this new direction of mine; Kirkwood West. This name is derived from a place where I first discovered music, computers and where most of my life memories begin. Where some of the bonds to my deepest and oldest memories exist. It is really an inclusion of my old self that I wish to invite and express.

Please listen to a short piece of music I composed under the alias.

Download - > Kirkwood West - Between States

Shortly, I will be launching kirkwoodwest.com where you will be able to find updates and news about what is going on with this new direction.

Thank You friends for listening and your endless love and support.

Jeffrey - amtrax (at) gmail dot com