Zip

Zip is the recording name of Thomas Franzmann, also known as Dimbiman and, in the verified note, Anders Hirsbro. He is a German DJ, producer and label co-founder associated with minimal techno and related club music. His work is also linked with aliases and collaborative projects that have appeared on Perlon and other labels.

Career

Franzmann starts out in 1986 as a singer in Second Voice. In 1992 he moves to Frankfurt and joins the EBM group Bigod 20, which later splits after several releases. In 1996 he forms the audio-visual project Pile with Markus Nikolai and Chris Rehberger. The following year he and Nikolai found the Perlon label, which becomes central to his later output.

Releases and aliases

On Perlon, he records under several names, including Dimbiman, Pantytec with Sammy Dee, and Narcotic Syntax with James Dean Brown. He also releases tracks and remixes on Playhouse, Force Inc and Novamute, among other labels. His work is noted for subtle changes within a 4/4 framework, and he is described as a co-founder of Perlon.

Notable collaborations and projects

Zip records with Peter "Baby" Ford and appears on Ford's PAL SL label. He also takes part in Narod Niki, a collective laptop live-jam project initiated by Ricardo Villalobos and Richie Hawtin. As a DJ, he plays in clubs internationally and holds residencies at Robert Johnson in Offenbach and Panorama Bar in Berlin.

Key track and compilation

In 1999, the SuPERLONgevity compilation includes the track "Bushes". That track later receives remixes by Derrick Carter and Fatboy Slim.