J. Saul Kane


Jonathan Saul Kane was a British DJ, musician, and producer who released music from 1987 as Depth Charge and The Octagon Man, amongst other aliases. He was involved in the founding of record label Vinyl Solution, as well as owner of his own labels DC Recordings and Electron Industries.
Kane was well known for his pioneering use of samples, particularly from cult films in the martial arts, Spaghetti Western and pornographic genres. He also made tracks celebrating his favourite football team and player. Kane was often credited with inventing "trip hop" and "big beat"; he used kung-fu film samples before Wu-Tang Clan. His other aliases include Alexander's Dark Band, T.E.T and Grimm Death.
As a confirmed kung-fu film fan, Kane was involved in setting up the company Made in Hong Kong, which licensed Chinese movies, particularly those made by the Shaw Brothers. Many of these films are examples of the heroic bloodshed genre. Made in Hong Kong was the first company to release Stephen Chow films on VHS in the UK.
Although news of his death was not publicised until November 2024, Kane died on 12 July 2024, at the age of 57 from complications of diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

Discography

as Depth Charge

Albums

  • 9 Deadly Venoms
  • Lust / Lust 2
  • ''Spill - Rare & Unreleased Tracks 1993-1998''

    Notable singles

  • "Depth Charge / Bounty Killers"
  • "Goal / Dead By Dawn"
  • "Depth Charge vs. Silver Fox"
  • "Bounty Killer II"
  • "Hubba Hubba Hubba"
  • "Legend of the Golden Snake EP / Shaolin Buddha Finger"
  • "Sex, Sluts and Heaven"
  • "Disko Vixen / Alien / Airlines"
  • "Romario / Blue Lipps"
  • "Bounty Killer 3"
  • "The Goblin"
  • "I Dream "
  • "Mecha Squirrel"

    as The Octagon Man

Albums

  • The Exciting World of the Octagon Man
  • Ito Calculus
  • ''Magneton''

    Notable singles

  • "Free-er Than Free"
  • "The Demented Spirit"
  • "Biting the Dragon's Tail"
  • "The Rimm / Phonic Maze"
  • "10ft Flowers"
  • "Vidd / Zedd"
  • "Toy Boxx "

    Notable remixes

  • Eon – "Spice"
  • S'Express – "Nothing To Lose"
  • Bomb The Bass – Winter In July"
  • Midi Rain – "Shine"