The Octagon Man is one of the pseudonyms used by British DJ and producer Jonathan Saul Kane, born in London on January 26, 1967. A pioneer in the field of sampling and a precursor of trip-hop with Depth Charge, the founder of the Vinyl Solution and D.C. Recordings labels set about creating more abstract atmospheres under the name The Octagon Man. From the very first track, "The Demented Spirit" (1990), now a cult classic, he demonstrated his know-how in a techno style punctuated by breakbeats. Although he proved more productive with Depth Charge and its film sound samples, Kane returned to The Octagon Man in 1995 with the EP Biting the Dragon's Tail and the triple vinyl album The Exciting World Of...The Octagon Man, featuring long ambient tracks. After the Vidd EP in 1998, the Îto Calculus album in 2000 was more danceable and syncopated, and in 2003, he organized a confrontation between the two entities on the suggestive "I Dream", released the same year as the third and final Magneton album. Also known as a remixer for The Dust Brothers, Meat Beat Manifesto, The Beta Band, Bomb the Bass and Depeche Mode, Kane produced several mix albums and used other names such as Alexander's Dark Band, Mr Selfish, The Spider, T.E.T., Grimm Death and Block Ink. His death, on July 12, 2024 at the age of 57, was not announced until four months later.
