Track Listing
1. Aelters - Roulé Brouillé
2. Jab Mica Och El - Side Car Bicycle (mp3)
3. Sun Ok Papi K.O. - Pizza Boy's Bike
4. Secret Mommy - Gas Prices
5. DJ Elephant Power - Bikebou
6. TU M' - Ladri Di Biciclette
7. Romanhead - Bicycle Work (mp3)
8. Uské Niko - Les Klaxons de Madame Dupont
9. Greg Davis - Sagres (v.6)
10. Wobbly - Flee You
11. Jason Forrest - Breaking Away
12. Original Sample

The concept is simple: Give a handful of today's most progressive sound designers only one sample to work with. They are able to manipulate this sample in any way they choose, but their entire song most be composed entirely from the single sound byte.

The supplied sample is a studio recording of a bicycle, recorded by Jesse Gander at The Hive Studios in Vancouver. This gives equal importance to the materials as well as the method used in PROJECT: BICYCLE. This, along with the beautifully written essay on bicycle riding and it’s social, environmental, and physical benefits by Green Party Candidate, Sean Orr, offers a deeper concept to the project. With the inevitable threat of peak oil in our not too distant future, it is time we opened the lines of communication to other forms of energy and transportation.

The incredibly international list of artists (USA, CANADA, FRANCE, BELGIUM, GERMANY, DENMARK, ENGLAND, and ITALY) also furthers the concept, illustrating that peak oil, and global warming is everyone’s concern, not just one country or region.

Each artist has chosen to tackle the project uniquely, embracing his own particular style. Whether it’s the playful, electrifying outburst’s of SUN O.K. PAPI KO’s ‘Pizza Boy's Bike’ (Belgium) and AELTERS’ ‘Roulé Brouillé’ (France), or the smoother approaches of WOBBLY’s ‘Flee You' (USA), and ROMANHEAD’s ‘Bicycle Work’ (UK), the various techniques in composition and style offer an incredibly dynamic listen, given PROJECT: BICYCLE’s strict guidelines.

Perhaps the most interesting piece, GREG DAVIS’ ‘Sagres' (USA) is a collection of manipulations of the original sample played back threw a handheld tape player while he rides around town on his own bicycle, pushing the boundaries of music, as well as this project.

PROJECT: BICYCLE is open sourced, meaning the original sample appears untouched at the end of the compilation. This gives the listener a point of reference for each artists song, offering an inside perspective on what each musician chose to do with the supplied sound. It also encourages the listener to get involved on more then an audience level, offering the means to create a song themselves, removing the hierarchal relationship between artist and fan.

Overall, PROJECT: BICYCLE is an important compilation that unifies several ideas about politics and art, activism and creativity. Yet, these ideas are presented modestly and open for interpretation, not relying on a ‘beat you over the head’ approach that can be intimidating. On the most basic level, it is simply a collection of wonderful music by some of the world’s most creative people, with a simple message: have fun riding your bike.

"This is an Ache label release of spirited electronic experimentation by eleven different artists, all reworking a sample of sound originally created using only a bicycle. Track #12 is that source material, which you are free to use to create your own piece. While some contributors emphasise rhythm, others favor smoother propulsion. Everyone avoids the temptation to hit-and-run with unnecessary power or weight, in favor of a lighter touch well-suited to this magnificent subject.
All but the best compilations can be patchy, naturally enough. Equally, a brilliant conceptual idea may turn out sounding forced and limited in execution. Thankfully, initial fears that Project Bicycle would be filed under Concept Sublime: Music Unlistenable are dispelled. This recording is jammed full of seductive contrast, yet also has a satisfying flow.
The Aelters track "Roule Brouille" evokes a pleasing ride through a frenetic and sunny marketplace. Jab Mica Och El produces something juddering and melting that's not too far from Kid Koala, while Sun OK Papi K.O.'s simultaneously controlled yet deranged gear and pedal-spinning and horn-squeaking left me wanting more. The results can stand alone, but some of the extra layers of process are amusing: for his contribution, Greg Davis ran the sample through a hand-held tape recorder as he rode around on a bike.
DJ Elephant Power comes up trumps with "Bikebou" perhaps the most evolving and involving work, starting every bit as pleasingly scratchy and repetitive as a section of Xerophonics' Copying Machine Music, before releasing warmth and a climactic softness. Romanhead achieves a slightly brooding and even-paced sound, as does Wobbly, with the clang and pulse of 'Flee You' appearing to take place either underwater or in deep space.
As mentioned, this music works well even without the listener knowing the concept. I suppose knowledge of the international lineup and accompanying essay on oil, global warming and general planet-friendliness may lead to certain conclusions, but I believe it mattered less to me than how the disc actually sounds. It may be obvious to suggest that this might make good listening for a bike ride, but I wouldn't recommend a rider missing the sounds to be heard out and about in the world. Anyway, watch for potholes and wear something bright." - Brainwashed

"...it remains a fascinating document of how different people can interpret one single sample. The rules were that the songs could only be constructed from that single source and the artists work some wonders. Ache Records label head Andy Dixon AKA Secret Mommy delivers a fantastic piece of work with “Gas Prices”, another addition to his catalog of critically acclaimed work. Jason Forrest AKA Donna Summer deviates from the rules just a little, but delivers his usually fantastically frenetic style of electronic music. And between the minimal and maximal styles here, Project Bicycle’s artists provide plenty to digest. But be forewarned, listening to this in a car might cause slight pangs of guilt." - Pop Matters

"Put together by terrific Vancouver label Ache, Project Bicycle is a concept album, with each track created using a common sample of a bicycle making noise. The record is dedicated to promoting the environmentally-friendly transportation method of bicycling, and while it doesn't really make me want to jump on a bike and jet it to the corner store for a handful of licorice laces, it is a very solid sampling of experimental electronic music from the scene's current citizens.
For the most part this record favours a strongly rhythmic approach, with the likes of Aelters, Secret Mommy (who sound identical to Niun Niggung-era Mouse on Mars), and current buzz-collector Jason Forrest adding solid slabs of complex electronica. Of course the concept of "beats" can become a little skewed - selections from Job Mica Och El and Wobbly use glitchy experimentation to construct their rhythms. Meanwhile, a few of the tracks are much more abstract, like Uske Niko's "Les Claxons De Madame Du Pont" and Greg Davis' sparse "Sagres." In the end, we get a rather varied experimental electronic release; this inconsistency results in a record that's a little tough to get a handle on, but also offers much to the open-minded ear. And for the glitch enthusiast, it means you're guaranteed to find one artist that appeals especially to you (mine is DJ Elephant Power). What are you waiting for?" - Indieville.com

"Project: Bicycle = bike sample + underrated studio masters
How do geeky musicians solve the oil crisis? They take a sample of a bicycle and pay homage to “the most significant invention since 1800.” Though the concept is deeply rooted in political, the artists keep the mood light-hearted. It’s kind of hard to portray anything in a heavy-handed manner with a squeaky horn as your subject. Gear spins, thumb-bells, spoke-taps and lots of honk-honks are transformed into a gamut of styles. They range from disco to micro-house and the wildly experimental. Aelters stomps though “Roulé Brouillé” with the energy of pre-schoolers at a rave. Secret Mommy drops the tempo to head-nodding with their carefully dissected headphone masterpiece “Gas Prices.” Uské Niko, whose oeuvre suggests that this project was made for him, performs a more conversational work rife with squeaking miscommunications and shouts. Turntablists (?) Greg Davis and Wobbly both offer a more serious experimentalist approach of plunderphonics and swirling effects." – Slug