John Miller
Infected Mushroom is an Israeli musical duo formed in Haifa in 1996 by producers Erez Eisen (or Aizen) and Amit Duvdevani. They produce and perform psytrance, electronica, dream trance, and psychedelic music. They are one of the best-selling groups in Israeli music history in terms of both domestic and international sales. They released their debut Monstercat single, Spitfire, on November 24, 2017. They are based in Los Angeles, California.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Formation year | 1996 |
| Place of formation | Haifa, Israel |
| Genre | Psytrance, electronica, dream trance, and psychedelic music |
| Band members | Erez Eisen, Amit Duvdevani, Thomas Cunningham, Erez Netz, and Rogério Jardim |
| Albums | The Gathering, Classical Mushroom, B.P. Empire, Converting Vegetarians, IM the Supervisor, Head of NASA and the 2 Amish Boys, More Than Just a Name, IM25, Converting Vegetarians II, Return to the Sauce, The Legend of the Black Shawarma, Army of Mushrooms, CVII, Friends on Mushrooms |
| Singles | Spitfire, Walking on the Moon, Bliss on Mushrooms, Guitarmass, Lost in Space, A Cookie from Space, Black Velvet, Tirkod LaNezach, Rawthentic |
| EP | Friends on Mushrooms Vol. 1, Friends on Mushrooms Vol. 2, Friends on Mushrooms Vol. 3 |
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What You'll Learn
The duo's formation in 1996
The electronic music duo Infected Mushroom was formed in 1996 in Haifa, Israel. The group was founded by producers Erez Eisen and Amit Duvdevani, who first began to play together that year. Their early efforts were released under the name Shidapu & Duvdev, before they renamed themselves Infected Mushroom—a name they stole from a disbanded local punk band. The duo drew inspiration from artists like The Prodigy and Metallica and were naturally attracted to the psytrance genre due to its popularity.
Infected Mushroom's music combines psytrance, electronica, dream trance, and psychedelic styles. They employ a variety of musical sources, including acoustic guitars and complex synthesized basses, and their compositions often feature changes in drum beat and tempo. The duo's live shows feature vocals and analogue instruments set against a multimedia backdrop. Eisen, who was born in Qiryat Yam, Israel, began classical music training at a young age, learning to play the organ at four and studying classical piano from the age of eight.
In 1998, two years after forming, Infected Mushroom began work on their first album, 1999's The Gathering, inspired by artists like Simon Posford, X-Dream, and Transwave. The album featured a dark, rhythmic sonic atmosphere with tracks like "Psycho," which sampled audio from the movie Batman & Robin. The Gathering was one of the first albums to introduce Israeli psytrance to mainstream audiences, contributing to the genre's worldwide popularity. Their 2000 follow-up album, Classical Mushroom, included the track "Bust a Move."
In 2004, Infected Mushroom released IM The Supervisor, which mixed psytrance with other genres. It became their best-selling album to date and was innovative for its time due to its psychedelic elements, gamelan-like noises, cut-up samples, and old-school sequencer throb in tracks like "Bombat." That year, the duo relocated from Haifa to Los Angeles, California, and expanded their lineup by adding guitarists Thomas Cunningham and Erez Netz. In 2007, Brazilian percussionist Rogério Jardim joined the group.
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Their genre-defying sound
Infected Mushroom are a duo hailing from Haifa, Israel, consisting of Erez Eisen and Amit Duvdevani. They are renowned for their unique and innovative approach to music production, defying genres and creating a distinct sound that has earned them a global fan base. Their style blends elements of psychedelic trance, electronica, rock, and ambient music to create a complex and layered auditory experience.
The pair's genre-defying sound is a product of their diverse musical influences and backgrounds. Eisen, with a classical piano upbringing, and Duvdevani, with a passion for rock and metal, bring together a unique blend of skills and tastes. Their production techniques often involve complex arrangements, intricate sound design, and a meticulous approach to layering and effects processing. This results in a rich and detailed soundscape that sets them apart from their peers.
One of the defining characteristics of Infected Mushroom's sound is their use of complex rhythms and percussion. They often incorporate breakbeat patterns, glitchy textures, and tribal influences, creating a dynamic and driving groove that underpins their tracks. This rhythmic complexity adds a layer of intensity and unpredictability to their music, keeping listeners engaged and immersed.
Another key element is their use of melodic and harmonic content. While they often work within the framework of psychedelic trance, they frequently incorporate unexpected chord progressions, exotic scales, and intricate melodies that weave in and out of the complex rhythmic foundation. Their lead synth lines are often ethereal and otherworldly, creating a sense of melody that is both captivating and unique.
Infected Mushroom also showcases a talent for blending organic and synthetic elements seamlessly. They frequently use manipulated vocal samples, acoustic guitar strums, and live drum recordings, integrating them with synthetic bass lines, arpeggios, and synth pads. This fusion of organic warmth and electronic precision adds a layer of depth and texture that enhances the emotional impact of their music.
Additionally, their production often features intricate sound design and a playful use of effects. They are known for their creative use of filters, delays, and modulations to create movement and depth within their tracks. Their sound design is meticulous, with custom-made presets and carefully crafted synth patches that contribute to their signature sound. This attention to detail and willingness to experiment sets them apart and keeps their sound fresh and intriguing.
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Their 1999 debut album, 'The Gathering'
Infected Mushroom is an Israeli musical duo formed in Haifa in 1996 by producers Erez Eisen and Amit Duvdevani. They produce and perform psytrance, electronica, dream trance, and psychedelic music. Their debut album, The Gathering, was released in 1999.
The Gathering is considered a groundbreaking album that played a pioneering role in the psy-trance scene of the late '90s. It features dark and rhythmic sonic atmospheres with strong Goa influences. The album is known for its intricate production and unique layering of various sounds. One of its popular tracks is "Psycho," which includes a sample from the movie Batman & Robin. Other notable songs from the album include "Release Me," "Return of the Shadows," and "Virtual Voyage".
The Gathering showcases Infected Mushroom's trademark sound, characterized by hypnotic arrangements and complex, layered melodies. The duo demonstrates a willingness to experiment with multiple genres, blending acoustic guitars with synthesized basses and incorporating changes in drum beats and tempo. Their innovative approach to music production has earned them a reputation as a groundbreaking legend in electronic music.
Infected Mushroom's debut album set the tone for their distinctive style and contributed to their worldwide recognition. With their unique soundscapes and genre-defying approach, they have influenced other artists and inspired a cult following of dedicated fans. The Gathering serves as a testament to Infected Mushroom's talent and their lasting impact on electronic music.
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2004's 'IM The Supervisor'
Infected Mushroom is an Israeli musical duo formed in Haifa in 1996 by producers Erez Eisen and Amit Duvdevani. They produce and perform psytrance, electronica, dream trance, and psychedelic music. Their 2004 release, IM The Supervisor, continued to mix psytrance with other musical genres and became Infected Mushroom's best-selling album to date.
The album was psychedelic in a way that dance music rarely had been prior to its release. Certain parts of IM The Supervisor, most notably the gamelan-like noises, cut-up samples, and the old-school sequencer throb of "Bombat," were lauded as innovative at the time. The underlying beats are very solid and quite deep, but some listeners felt that the vocals on top of some tracks were poor. Some listeners praised the vocals, while others criticised them as "horrendous" and "laughable". The album also includes female vocals on the track "Muse Breaks", which some listeners compared to Bjork.
IM The Supervisor marked a transition from the old IM dancefloor to a newer sound. It also signalled a change from the 'Classic Infected Sound', with the duo taking a more dancefloor-friendly approach. The album features a greater focus on vocals than their previous releases, foreshadowing the change the group made in their later album Vicious Delicious.
Infected Mushroom rose to #9 in the influential DJmag Top 100 DJs poll and were the highest-placed psytrance DJs in the category's 2007 debut appearance. This reflected the role the group had played in the genre's increased worldwide popularity.
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Their 2015 album, 'Converting Vegetarians II'
Israeli duo Infected Mushroom, formed in Haifa in 1996, are known for their blend of psychedelic trance, progressive rock, and experimental sounds. They released their ninth studio album, Converting Vegetarians II, on 11 September 2015 on Dim Mak Records. It was the follow-up to their 2003 album Converting Vegetarians.
Converting Vegetarians II is more ambient and down-tempo in style compared to their other albums, showcasing the band's dynamic and genre-defying approach to electronic music. The album features the vocals of Sasha Grey on the track "Fields of Grey".
Infected Mushroom's innovative sound has pushed the boundaries of electronic music. Their live performances feature vocals and analogue instruments set against a multimedia backdrop. The duo employs a variety of musical sources, including acoustic guitars and complex synthesized basses, often with changes in drum beat and tempo.
The band has had a significant impact on the popularity of Israeli psytrance worldwide. Their best-selling album, IM The Supervisor (2004), mixed psytrance with other genres and featured innovative elements such as gamelan-like noises and cut-up samples. Infected Mushroom has been ranked among the world's "10 Best DJs" and has completed numerous live performances annually, including at notable festivals such as Coachella and Burning Man.
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Frequently asked questions
Infected Mushroom is from Israel.
Infected Mushroom was formed in Haifa, Israel, in 1996.
Infected Mushroom is currently based in Los Angeles, California.
The duo was originally called Shidapu & Duvdev, but they later changed their name to Infected Mushroom, which they took from a local punk band that had disbanded.
