Itch-E and Scratch-E
| Itch-E and Scratch-E | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Boo Boo & Mace!, Boo Boo Mace 'n' Nutcase |
| Origin | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Genres | Techno, house, electronica |
| Years active | 1991–2001, 2010–current |
| Labels | Second Nature/Volition, Hussy/Ministry of Sound |
| Members | |
| Past members |
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Itch-E and Scratch-E are an Australian electronic music group formed by Paul Mac (a.k.a. Itch-E, Mace) and Andy Rantzen (a.k.a. Scratch-E, Boo Boo), both on keyboards and samples, in 1991. During the late 1990s the duo recorded as Boo Boo & Mace!. At times, they have included a third member, Sheriff Lindo (a.k.a. Nutcase) which were recorded as Boo Boo Mace 'n' Nutcase. In 2001 they disbanded as Mac pursued his solo career. In 2010 the duo reunited as Itch-E and Scratch-E to release new material.
In 1991 Itch-E and Scratch-E were formed in Sydney by Paul Mac (as Itch-E) on keyboards and samples (ex-Smash Mac Mac, The Lab) and Andy Rantzen (as Scratch-E) also on keyboards and samples (ex-Pelican Daughters). Their name refers to United States carton show, The Simpsons' characters, Itchy and Scratchy, as well as the drug, ecstasy or E. According to Jody Macgregor of AllMusic the name "certainly suggests that the idea of forming a techno duo started as a laugh." The duo were often joined for live shows by Sheriff "Dub Man" Lindo.
They initially performed a techno sound which drew on early bleep techno as well as influenced by fellow Sydney-based, Severed Heads (Tom Ellard of that group had helped produce an album by Mac's earlier band, The Lab, which was never released). The melodic influence of Mac, trained in classical music, gave them a distinctive sound which eventually led to pop success. One of their demos led to the band signing with Volition Records' label, Second Nature. Their six-track debut extended play, Irritable, was released in August 1992.
The group issued their debut studio album, Itch-E Kitch-E Koo, in October 1993. It was recorded at two Sydney studios, The Lab and Masking Tapes, with Mac and Rantzen as producers. Kristian Hatton of Haarp Media, in July 2015, listed the album as one of his Top 100 Albums in Niche Electronic Music, and explained "[it] showed that electronic music in our country – although always influenced by America and Europe – could gain attention from a mainstream audience despite being from the underground."
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