By dictionary definition, quantic is a homogenous function of two or more variables. "I was doing a lot of mathematics", says this UK project's Will Holland (b. Bewdley, Worcestershire, England), "and this seemed like the best name as it describes a whole with two or more variables.' Producer, remixer and musician Holland first released music under the Quantic moniker via the Breakin" Bread 7-inch imprint, and on subsequent albums The 5th Exotic (2002) and Apricot Morning (2002) fused a jazz sensibility with dancefloor orientated grooves. Afro-beat, brass (derived from samples and courtesy of his sister's playing), and tight breaks combined for sedentary listening. Featuring guest vocals from Alice Russell, MC EQ, and Bristol-based hip-hop crew Aspects, the unusually titled latter album took its name from the colour of the sky when Holland would return to his home at sunrise after a night DJing.
Inspired by a love of dusty 45s, in 2003 Holland adopted the Quantic Soul Orchestra moniker with the explicit intention of producing "a raw funk project in a 60s/70s style". For these purposes, Holland assembled a band including Dave Woodhouse (keyboards), Richard Gibbs (drums), and sister Lucy Holland (saxophone) alongside his own guitar playing. The Orchestra is a deliberately live venture with strictly no samples allowed. Although Holland and his collaborators acknowledge contemporary music with a cover of 4 Hero's "Hold It Down", both projects are heavily indebted to other music, particularly James Brown and David Axelrod. Holland also records vocal hip-hop/funk folk with Russ Porter under the Limp Twins moniker. Borne of a DJing partnership, the Limp Twins are described by Holland as "70s psychedelic hip-hop".
