There’s always private pleasure in seeing beauty where others don’t. Sometimes it’s just a case of the personal outweighing the spectacular but in a part of the world as vast and stunning as Yorkshire, the abundance of scenery makes finding that place an infinitely easier coincidence. Ilkley or ‘Heather Spa’ is one such place for 36 aka Dennis Huddleston. A moorland area on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, it’s served as both a place of escape and inspiration.
“It’s a place I’ve visited many times at various stages of my life,” he begins, “coming from Bradford, which has had its fair share of social and economic problems over the years, Ilkley provided an escape from the city and is somewhere me and my friends spent many days and nights. It isn't the largest, nor the most beautiful countryside in England, but it has an undeniable charm that’s felt by everyone who’s visited.”
You feel that connection throughout ‘Heather Spa’. It’s one of familiarity and rejuvenation with the exhale of the strings evoking happiness and a gazing contentment. ‘Heather Spa (Burning)’ is just as poised and gentle with its slow, weaving melodies and whilst it’s more clouded and subdued, it leaves a determinedly resonant impression.
“There was a huge fire in 2006 which destroyed vast areas of the moorland,” Dennis explains. “I had visited it only a few days prior and the lush green land was replaced by charred cinders, completely decimating the landscape. It was quite a sight to behold and there was an undeniable melancholy in the air. Reseeding efforts and the tough will of nature has reversed most of the damage and Ilkley Moor is alive once again.”
The initial inspiration for the ‘Shadow Play’ album, this final instalment of ‘Heather Spa’ marks the culmination of Dennis’ personal trilogy, and helps the ‘Heather Spa EP’ feel like a very natural conclusion to a journey of transition, progression and redemption.
"It's come full-circle in a way,” Dennis muses, “Heather Spa as a concept was the catalyst for my latest album 'Shadow Play' and you can see three distinct yet fully-connected chapters on what is a single story; the inception with Heather Spa, the realisation with Shadow Play, and finally with this EP for the ASIP Places Series, an epilogue. I think they're some of the most emotional pieces of music I've worked on and I hope you enjoy taking this final journey with me, right back at the place where it started".
Preghost - Ghost Story
I love it when my musical worlds collide. Like an instantaneous moment of record geekiness, I had a minute of joy when reading the press release for what will be, n5MD’s last release of the year; Preghost’s ‘Ghost Story’.
Preghost is also known as Kosuke Anamizu; a name I became familiar with during my years of obsession over Traum Schallplatten (have a read and listen to this feature/mix if you want to dive into that particular world). Kosuke was responsible for one of my favourite tracks, ‘Moopy’ released as part of the Elektronische Musik Interkontinental 3 compilation, but more specifically, the vinyl flip-side to a Process track (at which point I was buying up every single piece of Process vinyl I could find). It was a track I loved but for the life of me, and the one thing I remember about it, could never mix very well (that darn funky bassline).
It was also artists like Kosuke that led me to discover Mule Electronic too, another stunning record label worth trawling through (see this small post from back in 2009). Some years later this musical yellow-brick-road begins to sweep back into a more recent world, as Kosuke took on his new (and more infamous) alias, Moshimoss and released the superb ‘Endless Endings‘ on Ametsub’s label, Nothings66. Mastered by Nils Frahm, it was a dive into the realm of Sigur Ros with gentle electronics and angelic atmospheres.
As if that wasn’t enough for 2013, Kosuke has chosen to debut his latest alias, Preghost on the brilliant n5MD label, with ‘Ghost Story’. Now, I finally made it, apologies it took this long, but it’s worth the read. Now where to begin…
Stunning is a good word to start. Kosuke has gone and mashed every style he’s mastered over the years, From the melodic techno of early Traum, to the atmospherics of Endless Endings, to the beautiful and unique sound which n5MD seem to be cultivating at the moment – a new monster has been born.
A stirring mass of atmosphere and harsh distant guitars give way to a floating, echo of a vocal. What seems like a subtle Saxaphone creeps in the distance, but before you know it, the squelchy warm beats kick off and ‘Seeker’ begins the Ghost Story.
‘Snow Leopard’ begins with a very similar feeling to a lot of recent bvdub work (particularly his productions as Earth House Hold) with a sampled, looping vocal leading up to a stomping dubby-beat and dirty underlying bass – my favourite track on the album.
Intricacies come to clear in ‘Alter Ego’, a dreamy and busy track with a subtle melody and again, a gentle progressive stance that leaves you floating amongst a pattern of violins and complex beat structures.
By ‘Predawn’ I noticed how much of a perfect fit this album was for n5MD’s electronica roster. Elements of Ocoeur, (ghost) and bvdub, shining through by the second, particularly with the clean, clicky ‘Predawn’ beats.
Washes fizzle amongst a mechanical, growing presence on ‘Cliff Edge Ghost’, a dark and haunting repetition that summons you into a euphoric steam of power – like the morning’s mist rising from the sea over an intimidating cliff-face.
A more conventional electronic beat takes centre stage on ‘Lostus’, prefaced by a creepy vocal and later bathed in swathes of choral ambience – a slightly jarring and uncomfortable juxtaposition that continues Kosuke’s ghostly theme. ‘Siusin’ is also similar in style, with swirling vocals perched on top of a driving dub-techno beat and again, that formidable bass.
Ametsub then provides a remix of ‘Lostus’ staying true to the major elements mentioned above but paying more attention to the complex beat structure. More of a composed ‘song’ structure is present, instead of the long progression you’re used to by now, helped by a break into the main melody half-way through and the keys being pitched slightly higher. It’s the slightly happier version of what is a dark and haunting original by Kosuke.
Ending on ‘Departures’, the album finishes with one of its finest moments. A pounding combination of glittering vocals, melancholic piano, bright ambient pads, and that simple but very present beat you’ve been addicted to throughout the album.
This is definitely my favourite work Kosuke has produced in the nine or so years i’ve followed him, and i’d go as far to say one of the best electronica albums of the year. An insight into the complexities that adorned his early techno work balanced with the hypnotic and atmospherics of his more recent work as Moshimoss.
It also caps off what has been an unbelievable year of releases from n5MD which have all set the tone for a new breed of electronica artists; Ocoeur, (ghost) and a return of some of the best (bvdub, Arovane). If you’re a fan of n5MD’s output this year, then Ghost Story is the unexpected crowning glory of 2013.
Passing by: Markus Guentner, Verdant Recordings, Audioglider & Todos
Markus Guentner – Golden Fall Mix
Not what you’re expecting from Markus, but for those not hemmed by genre this is a stunning detroit techno / deep house mix. Love it when ambient artists come out of their comfort zone, but then again, as shown with many of Markus’ recent remixes (such as his remix of Norge on Uncharted Places) he does like to stray into beat-heavy productions sometimes. This must be at least some of his inspiration right here.Download.
Verdant / Andy Green – Crashing Mix
It’s been a little while since we’ve been treated to a Verdant mix. Andy has weaved some stunners into this one, keeping it deep and unexpected the whole way. The Sight Below, Donato Dozzy, Robert Henke, Thomas Fehlmann and Claro Intelecto feature. Download.
Audioglider – Mixtape Vol.13
Roberto’s back with another dreamy mix and some of his recent inspirations. Never disappointing, always innovative and original. Starting beatless and progressing into more electronics and vocals the mix features Segue, Stumbleine, Vector Lovers, Hammock and Kyson amongst others. Download
Todos – Isolated
I must listen to a DJ Todos mix atleast once a week… If you haven’t heard his Kilchurn Sessions then PLEASE go listen – outstanding. This mix is very much along those lines, but more ambient focused, and featuring some of our favourite tracks of recent years intertwined with some hidden gems – an all engrossing journey as you’d expect from Todos. Download
Photo: LA flyover http://instagram.com/astrangelyisolatedplace
Ulrich Schnauss & Mark Peters – Tomorrow Is Another Day
The last few releases with Ulrich’s name against them have been unlike anything we’ve experienced before, with Ulrich teaming up with ASC for the ’77 EP’ and an enlisting of Arovane and Tycho for remixes of ‘I Take Comfort In Your Ignorance’. His highly anticipated 2013 album ‘A Long Way To Fall‘ marked an evident progression in his sound, which some of his fans didn’t entirely enjoy. However, I for one am relishing in Ulrich’s recent electronic explorations.
His latest project sees The Engineers’ Mark Peters return for a second album and more of the duo’s enigmatic guitar and synth harmonies.Underrated Silence (2012) marked a patient stance in the way the duo were to work together, with much more emphasis on Mark’s guitars and a slower, more ‘shoegaze’ approach to their productions (take ‘The Messiah Is Falling‘ for example). However ‘Tomorrow Is Another Day’ seems to be Ulrich’s time to shine this time around, and plenty of the signature sounds we’ve been missing since the likes of ‘A Strangely Isolated Place’ and ‘Far Away Trains passing By’.
Their sound has matured and a much more natural balance established, allowing Ulrich to bring the best out of Mark Peters and vice versa. Instead of talking about Mark’s guitars taking the lead, or Ulrich’s synths shining stronger – it’s just a better sound overall – a perfect middle-ground. Yet, unmistakably one that reminds you of Ulrich’s early polished work.
The title track ‘Tomorrow Is Another Day’ and ‘Rosmarine’ drive with subtle inflictions and melodic guitar strums similar to ‘Nobody’s Home‘ on ‘Far Away Trains Passing By’, whilst the likes of ‘Das Volk hat Keine Seele’ (The People Have No Soul’) and ‘There’s Always Tomorrow’ is a stark reminder of Ulrich’s famous atmospheric productions such as ‘Molfsee‘ and ‘Monday Paracetamol‘.
To avoid spending this whole review comparing this album to Ulrich’s old works, it’s tracks like ‘One Finger And Someone Else’s Chords’, which help mark a definite progress in sound over the years, with sharper synths, grainy claps and more evident melodies, no longer hidden amongst layer upon layer of progressive synths. It’s the synth-master in his element. All helped of course by Mark’s leading guitar-work and in ‘Walking With My Eyes Closed’, a surprising Depeche Mode style vocal.
The second track to be aired from the album, ‘Inconvenient Truths’ below (exclusive preview), again shows subtle drum patterns to the likes of ‘Knuddlemaus’ alongside some of the best guitar-work on the album.
Ulrich’s progress along the years has been to the dislike of a few of his original fans, but I think everyone can find solace in this latest album. Echoes of his early work, some perfect moments of balance between the two artists and nods towards Ulrich’s more vivid electronic tracks we found on ‘A Long Way To Fall‘. Any which way you look at it, it’s a perfect harmony between an instrumentalist, and a pioneer of the synthetic sound – a ground where many have yet to succeed.
‘Tomorrow Is Another Day’ is out on Bureau B recordings October 25th. Buy direct here. There’s also more previews of the album here on Soundcloud.
Tracklisting:
1. Slow Southern Skies
2. Tomorrow Is Another Day
3. Das Volk Hat Keine Seele
4. Inconvenient Truths
5. One Finger And Someone Else’s Chords
6. Additional Ghosts
7. Walking With My Eyes Closed
8. Rosmarine
9. Bound By Lies
10. There’s Always Tomorrow
isolatedmix 41 - Arovane
After our in-depth interview with Uwe, there isn’t much more we need to say to introduce such an esteemed man of music. As most of you know, a mix from Uwe is rare and it’s the first time (at least in over nine years) that we’re treated to a genuine insight into what makes him tick. Rare IDM, studio colabs from years gone-by and beautiful vinyl have inspired this very special dive into Uwe’s mind, echo’ing his signature sound and appreciation for the finest detail throughout. With tracks spanning from 1997 until 2002, this mix taps straight into the heart of a defining era for electronica.
Take a seat, grab your headphones, have a read, and dive into a world of glitch, IDM and atmospheric electro-acoustic surges that could only have come from one of the greatest sound-designers of our time.
Once you’re finished with the mix, Uwe’s return to form, ‘Ve Palor’, is out now on n5MD through Bandcamp, CD or red vinyl editions. Continue the journey we’ve all been waiting a very long time for…
Tracklist:
01. Pan American – Quarry A
02. Markant – Cat M18
03. Dynamo – Aufenthalt
04. Radian – Biodapter
05. Main – VII
06. Biophilia Allstars – No movement, No sound, No memories
07. Snd – Newtables 36
08. Zorn – The City is Collapsing (But Not Tonight)
09. Signer – Interior Dub
10. Artificial Duckflavour – infarct
Tracknotes:
Pan American – Quarry A
“A very nice 10″ vinyl. I love the special atmosphere on this record”
Markant – Cat M18
“I met Carsten Endraß years ago in south of Germany, he gave me a lot of his 10″ with beautiful self-made covers for my collection”
Dynamo – Aufenthalt
“A rare 12″ from Dynamo. Raw, technoid music, made with the sequential circuits studio 440 with a very special rhythmic signature”.
Radian – Biodapter
“This electroacoustic music fascinates me”
Main – VII
“Same with main. Sound source is an electric guitar”
Biophilia Allstars – No movement, No sound, No memories
“A very interesting project of Lux Nigra. I remember a fascinating session with Peter Gebert in my studio”.
Snd – Newtables 36
“Clean, crisp, digital”.
Zorn – The City is Collapsing (But Not Tonight)
“Micha and me met in my studio for some interesting sessions. I love this track.”
Signer – Interior Dub
“Very smooth, deep sound. I love to listen to late at night”.
Artificial Duckflavour – infarct
“A track with the smell of Artificial Duckflavour”.