ITM’s tjaden catches Glasgow’s minimal wunderkind kid Alex Smoke in Auckland – en route to Australia – and waxes lyrical about the lost art of emotive electronic music, family and massacring the gods.

I was expecting gloom. The dejected sound of a love-sick Satan. When an artist’s music is described as minimal melancholy, gloom with poignancy, and mournful melodies, I was imagining a dejected face in a tepid bath tub, half burnt candles, plugged-in laptop teetering on the edge of the basin, a perturbed mind to-ing and fro-ing between finishing the chords to another ethereal sound excursion, or simply letting the machine drop and ending it altogether.

Disappointed I was to find that Alex cheerfully calling himself “the most optimistic person I know”. He had a polite pep to his voice. I wasn’t convinced. “The music [you listen to] doesn’t necessarily have a direct correlation with your personality. Melancholic music has more personality.” I was still not buying into his supposedly auspicious outlook. I mention Darren Aronfsky’s contemporary classic Requiem for a Dream being one of the most uplifting movies I’d ever seen, attempting to understand the ironic yet complimentary dichotomy of sorrow invoking hope. Was I close? “I don’t trust anyone that’s too happy”. Not even.

Speaking of misery, I mention both his remix of In The Morning by the Junior Boys, and the original, as being particularly mournful tracks that invoked memories of an ex and an acrimonious split. “That’s great man. Music should do that. If it doesn’t have a misery sub-text, it’s not worth listening to”. Thanks for the consolation bud!

With a flurry of 12” releases on Berlin minimal label Vakant, re-buffing duties including Mylo, Pete Tong, rising space-pop stars Junior Boys and electronic legends Depeche Mode, two artists albums and a compilation on the highly esteemed Soma label, countless appearances on taste-making compilations, and a mix on BBC’s seminal Radio One, all in the space of two years, this yearling must be looking at the bright side of life.

I wondered, with his Depeche Mode mix, what did it feel like to be a potential sacrilegious violator of the ‘Beatles of electronic music’ – as techno don Richie Hawtin once called them. “I love Depeche Mode. Now there’s a bunch of miserable c**ts – respect intended. I didn’t have enough time, it could’ve been better.” Overly critical and honest. I expected nothing less.

I mention the Junior Boys album being in his top 10 LPs of 2006. “I love the Junior Boys… Jeremy Greenspan [from the Junior Boys] gave me an email. He wanted me to remix one of their tracks.” Not purely confined to the machinations of intricate electronica, he seems willing to explore the boundaries of pop, and it’s interesting to note that this also finds itself manifest in his favourite track from his own 2006 LP, Paradolia. “I’d have to say [my favourite is] Make My Day. It’s the closest thing to a pop track.”

With minimal being the catchword of 2006, and a correlative output of template based soulless electronica, it’s refreshing to hear unabashed emotion and fragility in music. His latest artist album fuses dub, electro, grime and minimal techno. Imagine a blend of motion and movement, glitchiness and melody, all in an unearthly context. How does a lad from Glasgow earn the tag of the underground’s latest prodigy?

“My mum.”

Excuse me? In a post-apocalyptic romance scene, Alex’s music would be the love child of great ballet dance Nureyev and a Korg Triton. It’s music that meanders so effortlessly between epic string arrangements and post-rave synths, that it must be borne from more regal beginnings. “She’s a professional violinist. She was the main driving force behind me, and my brother’s musical interest.” The veil lifts. “I’m classically trained. I learnt the cello from 5, piano from 7, choir at 9 and drums from 14.”

I suggest for Alex to put the choir training into practice and sing over live electronica, a la Jamie Lidell. “No way. It’s scary to be out in the open like that. You’re in too vulnerable a position”. Considering his immense talents and bourgeoning live shows, I doubt stage fright would be a problem.

So what about 2007 then? Any New Year resolutions? “No, not really. I’m too well behaved… I don’t drink a whole lot, I like to stay in control… [I’d like to] just give up the cigarettes. My girlfriend asked me the same question and I couldn’t really think of anything.” With credentials and acclaim stacking up over the past two years, I’d struggle to find things I wanted to change as well.

Playing completely live on his Australian tour, he’ll be using Logic and Ableton on his Mac to deftly weave his dance floor romance. Having been to Australia once before, albeit briefly for a Red Bull Academy tour in 2006, Alex is chomping at the bit. “Melbourne’s great, very cultural. I’ve got lots of family there… I don’t know much about the Australian scene, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Family, friend, or fellow admirer, you’re advised to come out and support Smoke at one of his three remaining Australian shows:

Thu 25 Jan – Blow Your Own Way, Melbourne
Sat 27 Jan – Chinese Laundry, Sydney
Sun 28 Jan – Rainbow Serpent Festival, Victoria