|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CD
|
|
SOMA 117CD
|
Deepchord's latest album on Soma, Auratones, sees a return to a more techno sound. A foray into deep, organic, cinematic dance music; subterranean bass, intercepted alien transmissions, and stripped down dance-beats meld with sheets of sounds that roll over the listener like waves lapping up on the shore. Shimmering, watery, brain hemisphere synchronization tones caress and melt stress away. Dancefloor-friendly tracks that work equally well in one's private listening space; Immersive music with a distinctive aquatic quality. Inspired by Detroit and Berlin's dance genres, but tempered by more ambience/atmosphere than one would expect from those genres. Music without harshness or rough edges; Fuzzy, out-of-focus, soft-sounds that slip in and out of the listener's consciousness. Auratones uniquely melds current dance rhythms with lushness and spirituality. Synesthetic sounds that trigger sensory experiences in cognitive pathways other than hearing: smells of perfumes, thoughts of colors, and altered perception of time and space. Psychoacoustic, cerebral, electronic listening music for those wanting a different experience than the current harsher, darker dance trends are offering. Responsibly made gentle music designed from the ground-up to have a positive effect on the nervous system and leave the listener invigorated and recharged. Chi-building sonic balm. Timeless, exotic dance tracks for a new school of electronic music enthusiasts who are searching for beautiful sounds, crafted with a higher purpose in mind. Recorded during April-June 2016 in Barcelona Spain, then further mixed/processed/assembled in Port Huron Michigan in early 2017.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2CD
|
|
SOMA 111CD
|
Dub techno master Deepchord returns with his fourth album on Soma, a collection of otherworldly transmissions from his laboratory. With Ultraviolet Music, Deepchord returns to his proprietary formula of atmospheric heroin-house (after 2013's more cinematic 20 Electrostatic Soundfields (SOMA 104CD)). A hallucinogenic amalgamation of deep emotive textures swimming around 4/4 kicks and sub-bass, middle-of-the-night atmospheres, hypnotic repetitions, shortwave static, and slowly evolving textures that envelop the listener in warm blankets of sound. Equally effective on a dancefloor as it is in one's private space. Multi-dimensional sounds that move the mind and the feet. Numerous (processed) acoustic and organic sound sources make these tracks seem alive in a way that is uncommon in electronic music today. They are breathing life-forms that reveal their subtle layers with repeated listenings. It's music that's influenced equally by 1980s experimental, 1990s ambient, Detroit techno, deep house, and Berlin school, creating something entirely unique in the process. State of the art low-tech electronica.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
ARC 001CD
|
Echospace introduces the launch of echospace [detroit] archival editions, a special edition series focused on the rare, historical works of Deepchord. The long out-of-print Deepchord catalog has since been remastered and is finally available again. It's been a lengthy and timely process restoring old analog tape, DAT and cassette recordings (some dating back to 1994), all of which have been carefully resurrected from the vault of Detroit's revered NSC Studio. The long out-of-print catalog has been remastered, mixed, and once again bounced down to tape to ensure the best possible listening experience. Great measures, focus and time were spent to preserve the analog warmth and sonic integrity of the original masters. For those who don't know, these releases are considered by many some of the most inspired and influential sounds to emerge from Detroit well over 10 years ago -- a blueprint was set here for many artists to come, a step in the evolution. Expect gorgeous plumes of sound deeper than the ocean floor -- a rich analog tapestry made in the heart of Detroit, Techno City. Tracks 1-4 culled from DC07 (2000); Tracks 5-8 culled from DC08 (2000); Tracks 9-12 culled from DC09 (2000).
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
ARC 002CD
|
Echospace is pleased to introduce the second edition of Echospace [Detroit] archival editions, a special edition series focused on the rare, historical works of Deepchord. The long out-of-print Deepchord catalog has since been remastered and is finally available again. The release includes photography by Rod Modell. It's been a lengthy and timely process restoring old analog tape, DAT and cassette recordings (some dating back to 1994) all of which have been carefully resurrected from the vault of Detroit's revered NSC Studio. The long out-of-print catalog has been remastered, mixed, and once again bounced down to tape to ensure the best possible listening experience. Great measures, focus and time were spent to preserve the analog warmth and sonic integrity of the original masters. For those who don't know, these releases are considered by many to be some of the most inspired and influential sounds to emerge from Detroit well over 10 years ago -- a blueprint was set here for many artists to come, a step in the evolution. Expect gorgeous plumes of sound deeper than the ocean floor, a rich analog tapestry made in the heart of Detroit, Techno City. Tracks 1-3 culled from dc10 (2001); Tracks 4-6 culled from dc11 (2001); Tracks 7-9 culled from dc12 (2001).
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
ARC 003CD
|
Echospace is pleased to introduce the third edition of Echospace [Detroit] archival editions, a special edition series focused on the rare, historical works of Deepchord. The long out-of-print Deepchord catalog has since been remastered and is finally available again. The release includes photography by Rod Modell. It's been a lengthy and timely process restoring old analog tape, DAT and cassette recordings (some dating back to 1994) all of which have been carefully resurrected from the vault of Detroit's revered NSC Studio. The long out-of-print catalog has been remastered, mixed, and once again bounced down to tape to ensure the best possible listening experience. Great measures, focus and time were spent to preserve the analog warmth and sonic integrity of the original masters. For those who don't know, these releases are considered by many to be some of the most inspired and influential sounds to emerge from Detroit well over 10 years ago -- a blueprint was set here for many artists to come, a step in the evolution. Expect gorgeous plumes of sound deeper than the ocean floor, a rich analog tapestry made in the heart of Detroit, Techno City. Tracks 1-6 by Rod Modell & Mike Schommer; Tracks 7-10 by Rod Modell. Tracks 1-3 culled from dc13 (2001); Tracks 4-6 culled from dc14 (2001); Tracks 7-9 culled from dc16 (2003).
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
SOMA 104CD
|
The third Deepchord (Rod Modell) full-length on Soma explores the ambient realm. With this album, Deepchord veers even farther away from the current trends in dance music with an assemblage of conceptual audioscapes culled from video-soundtrack and installation works made between 2008 and 2012. This highly unusual collection contains immersive, introspective audio-sculptures more akin to musique concrète or electroacoustic music rather than dance, and exemplifies Modell's importance of developing a new sound in lieu of following popular trends. With some tracks clocking in at only 60-90 seconds, and practically nothing being dancefloor accessible, this album represents a truly unique electronica offering amongst the oceans of artists following a similar formulaic sound. Much of the album has an otherworldly, nocturnal feeling that would sit well in a David Lynch soundtrack. Sound collages comprised of alien-radio transmissions and earth tones melded with lush electronic sounds and underwater atmosphere. Modell's usual arsenal of studio hardware supplies the tonal food, but much of that is further processed with granular synthesis and arranged with generative-music techniques. Pieces like "Prayer Wheel" and "Seaweed" are set into motion and left to unfold organically without interference. "De Wallen" is from the Hash Bar Loops (SOMA 091CD) period and is a night-time soundtrack for Amsterdam's Red Light District. It audibly mimics this area's quiet uneasiness... beautiful with undercurrents of activity not visible to the casual passer-through. "Trompettersteeg" is similar in feeling, with its late-night field recordings made in the streets surrounding Amsterdam's Oude Kerk. "Raval," "Barcelona," and "Rooftop" contain atmospheric recordings made around Barcelona's El Raval district (a rooftop terrace on a rainy Barcelona night, recording sounds of traffic below and raindrops on an umbrella -- in "Rooftop").
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
3x12"
|
|
ARC 002LP
|
Echospace is pleased to introduce the second edition of Echospace [Detroit] archival editions, a special edition series focused on the rare, historical works of Deepchord. The long out-of-print Deepchord catalog has since been remastered and will finally be available again on this gorgeous triple LP set. The release includes photography by Rod Modell and 2 12"x12" (frame-able) photographs emphasizing the creative eye and instincts of the artist. It's been a lengthy and timely process restoring old analog tape, DAT and cassette recordings (some dating back to 1994) all of which have been carefully resurrected from the vault of Detroit's revered NSC Studio. The long out-of-print catalog has been remastered, mixed, and once again bounced down to tape to ensure the best possible listening experience. Great measures, focus and time were spent to preserve the analog warmth and sonic integrity of the original masters. For those who don't know, these releases are considered by many to be some of the most inspired and influential sounds to emerge from Detroit well over 10 years ago -- a blue-print was set here for many artists to come, a step in the evolution. Expect gorgeous plumes of sound deeper than the ocean floor, a rich analog tapestry made in the heart of Detroit, techno city. [includes the delayed 12" x 12" print originally intended for the previous volume ''07/08/09'' as well.]
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
SOMA 099CD
|
2017 repress. Following on from the dark intensity of Hash-Bar-Loops (SOMA 091CD), Deepchord has continued to innovate and diversify his output. Traces of the previous album remain on this record but here, there is a lighter, more ethereal feel. Deepchord's characteristic manipulation of space and time is still intact and is an integral part of Sommer's soundscape. Modulating textures, sliding tempos, shifting rhythmic elements, and electroacoustics create a constantly-evolving, vaporous, sonic tapestry. Rich field recordings and proprietary processing methods (developed over 20 years of making such recordings) provide an impactful, living, organic element with flecks of percussion and bass pulsing from the sound field. Atmospheric warmth and engrossing layers are expertly woven with the overall mood, evocative of warm summer evenings. Listening is equally effective on a PA with a crowd as it is on the beachside with headphones alone.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
SOMA 091CD
|
Rod Modell (aka DeepChord) is a sound-designer with 25 years involvement in electronic music and over 50 releases under various aliases and styles. Rod's idea of an album revolves around a concept that isn't always followed in modern day electronic long-players. A chain of feelings and emotions emanate from his work and flow in a manner that has been very carefully considered. Buzzing in atmospheric warmth and layered with mesmerizing rhythms, Hash-Bar Loops tells the tale of a hazy extended stay in Amsterdam, where the album was in the most part formed. Starting from deep and dreamy soundscapes, the album warms from the outset with the opener, "Spirits." The underlying atmosphere is somewhat disconcerting, but balances perfectly with soft, distant chords and ever-evolving percussion. The album progresses through turbulent synths and outlying melodies on "Sofitel" and "Merlot." On "Tangier," stabs and textures melt into one another, adding tension and dynamics in true DeepChord style. The swirling air of "Electromagnetic" then conveys a dizzying and hypnotic feel in which budding chords emerge from a white-washed DC soundscape. "Balm" steps into another world, with beautiful hovering chords that pulse throughout the track, forming a delicate and emotive shape. The climactic "Oude Kerk" sits at the peak of this album and deserves its crown. Arguably the most exposed of all tracks on the album, "Oude Kerk" fizzles end to end, letting the deep low frequencies and advancing percussion take over. "City Centre" then reels the synths back in, with contemplative pads that are underpinned with arguably the heaviest sub-bass on the album. Field recordings can once again be heard, hidden deep in the layers of sound on "Crimson" and "Black Cavendish," where their dense sonics slowly swell behind metallic clangs. Closing the circle, "Neon" and "Rain" steps back into the deep and wistful soundscapes heard at the opening of the album where the familiar sense of unease and contemplation toy with one another. In Soma's 20th anniversary year, they count themselves truly fortunate to be able to release music they love this much.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
ECHOSPACE 001CD
|
"Echospace [Detroit] is the label launched by Rod Modell (Deepchord) and Soultek's Steven Hitchell, two leading lights of the minimal dub techno scene. And as with anything Deepchord, the entire release has an air of mystery to it. Previously, as a near-mythical vinyl pressing with minimal packaging and restricted pressings, everything about Vantage Isle was geared toward the underground, or 'those who know.' However, there's nothing but love of craft driving these grooves, and now a lot more people will finally be able to hear this absolutely brilliant collection of spacial dub wonder on CD. Vantage Isle Sessions consists of a whopping 13 takes of the title track, reworked by Modell and Hitchell in various guises (cv313, Deepchord, Echospace, Spacecho), as well as a guest spot (and first ever remix) from Gerard Hanson (Convextion). Across their 13 versions, Modell and Hitchell manage to take the Deepchord template (analog synths, deep bass, gently throbbing beats, bursts of static and noise, and deep, deep chords) into a surprising variety of directions, akin to looking at the same giant glacier from a helicopter from every angle possible: some are beatless and undulating, some are pulsing and dynamic, some are looking up from under the ice and some are towering overhead. The aforementioned Convextion version is revelatory. It's built on cascading and echoing pieces of the original that are layered like shifting sands, for a distinctly dark and shimmering journey to the bottom of the frozen ocean and back. It's remarkable enough to get all these takes on one basic template to sound somewhat different, given that the source material is really just a skeletal array of sound sheets. Vantage Isle Sessions is for anyone looking for the logical successors to the Basic Channel throne, or just looking for something mellow for those steamy late summer nights. A stone-cold classic of the genre. Don't miss it." --Todd Hutlock, Stylus Magazine/Beatz by the Pound
|
|
|
|