Datach'i discovers the cycles of life with 'Akemies'

A few weeks ago we heard the first new music from veteran producer Datach’i in a few years, announcing to the world his return with an upcoming LP entitled ‘Bones,’ releasing the 26th July 2019 on Planet Mu sublabel Timesig. As mentioned in that review, Datach’i’s approach to this album was unlike any other in his now-sizable ouvre. With the recent passing of his father, he channelled thoughts and feelings into Bones that only significant disruptions such as this can bring.

Electronic music is almost intrinsically linked to repetition, to loops, to cycles. A form in which time bends back on itself, creating moments with no predetermined end. Datach’i employs this principle masterfully when he operates his custom-designed modular system, but in the context of this particular album, the producer born Joseph Fraioli reflects deeply on how this manifests in life: “It was something very much on my mind throughout recording this album, ends being beginnings and beginnings being the end. Cycles of time and how time works, it's all reflected throughout the album right down to how the tracks are ordered."

In particular, the opening track on Bones which we get to preview today, unmistakably captures how electronic music can reflect life in this cyclic manner. It’s a rhythmically mesmerizing start, intentionally obscuring the structure of various modulations to capture a feeling of perpetual movement. Fittingly, the track is titled ‘Akemies’, likely after Akemie’s Castle, a beautifully classic sounding FM synth module that propels the frantic synthetic percussion and kicks the album off with a bang.

Stream it above right now, and hop over to Datach’i’s bandcamp to pre-order the full album.

— review by autonomy

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Datach'i finds another way to process death with 'Bones'

Longtime electronic producer Datach’i has a new album coming titled ‘Bones’, and while new music by great producers is usually cause for celebration, for Datach’i, it is a sombre moment. The album is a deeply personal reflection, made during the producer’s father’s battle with cancer and recent passing. The album releases 26th July 2019 on Planet Mu subsidiary label Timesig, but today we get to hear the 4th track from the album, ‘Rockledge 3A.’

You may think that writing music during such a difficult moment in life would produce decidedly darkly coloured music, but Datach’i shows us that there are other ways to process death. The intimacy of Rockledge 3A is readily apparent; however, it is also surprisingly upbeat. Synthetic polyrhythms abound, and warm, analog chords create an all-encompassing optimism, perhaps channeling an appreciation for what once was, rather than dwelling on what is no longer. Like Datach’i’s last album, ‘System,’ Bones was written, sequenced, and produced entirely within his custom-built modular system. Typically, modular-based music tends to lean on the side of dense and technical, but Datach’i’s musical touch instead imbues Bones with an emotionally rich palette. Clearly, he would rather prioritize sensitivity and intuitive appeal over rugged complexity, and it makes for a wonderfully listenable introduction to the album, despite, or perhaps in common cause of, the heaviness of its subject matter.

You can stream Rockledge 3A above, and if you like it, be sure to pre-order Bones via bandcamp for access to limited edition bonus materials, including the chance to win a TipTop Audio 'One' Modular sampler.

— review by autonomy

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Audio / Visual Overload from Richard Devine and Numbercult

Music written and produced by Richard Devine available on the album 'Sort\Lave' (TIMESIG009) https://richarddevine.bandcamp.com/album/sort-lave Video produced and directed by Craig Ritchie Allan https://numbercult.design/

In case you missed it, IDM guru and sound design genius Richard Devine just dropped what is arguably one of the deepest modular synth records of all time.

’Sort/Lave’ was composed almost entirely on his custom built Eurorack modular system and features 12 tracks of dizzying percussion, galaxy-deep atmospheres, and utter sound design opulence. It’s an album that really sets the bar for what is possible with modern-day modular systems while still retaining all the rich musicality we’ve come to expect from the Atlanta-born producer.

Adding a visual dimension to the already incredibly detailed track ‘Revsic’, digital artist Craig Ritchie Allan aka Numbercult focused on unpacking the tracks densely packed constituent parts.

”When I set about constructing the video, I wanted the visual elements to engage the dynamics of the music, it felt like there was something elemental about the acoustic elements, so I starting thinking about about travelling through inner space, sub atomic structures forming and splintering apart and electric flashes of colour. I finished off by dropping in some sci-fi inspired interface elements to give the feeling you’re in a craft traversing a microverse.”

Get the full audio/visual immersion by checking out the clip above in full 1080p or by supporting the release over on Bandcamp.

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Richard Devine: "In the end I feel this is one of the best records I have released to date"

https://planetmu.bleepstores.com/release/107937-richard-devine-sortlave https://richarddevine.bandcamp.com/album/sort-lave http://smarturl.it/RDSortLave After a break of 6 years, Atlanta based electronic musician, producer and sound designer Richard Devine returns with a new album ‘Sort\Lave’ on Venetian Snares‘ Timesig imprint. Recorded between 2016 and 2017 using Richard’s custom built Eurorack modular system and two Nord G2 Modular units, Sort\Lave features 12 tracks of intricate electronica that ranges from abrasive percussive experiments such as ‘Revsic‘ to ‘Astra’s dazzling juxtaposition of sounds and onto the radiant ambience of the album’s closer ‘Takara‘. Talking about the album’s genesis Devine explains “I’ve been using modular synthesizers since I was 17, but have never written complete tracks using these newer systems. This was my first experiment to see if it would be possible and I probably spent about 5 years building up the systems that I used on this album.” “I wanted the record to sound very different to my previous works which had been more cold, digital, clinical even, and had all been made using computers. The aim here was the complete opposite, to create something that felt very organic, detailed, spacious, big and warm and just as importantly, a record that you could put on and play all the way through that flowed in a seamless way.” This new approach was to prove fruitful and enabled Devine to create music in an entirely new way. “I really wanted to break free from timeline-based music creation and do things with my hands on the fly,” he explains. “So the tracks are more like captured snapshot performances where I could experiment and play around with the idea of probability-based sequencing for every patch, string multiple sequencers together that would feed other sequencers to come up with interesting rhythms and melodies. It was really fun coming up with new sounds this way too, I felt like I created several I haven't heard before with this album. Some of the tracks on the album were complete accidents and evolved from something that happened spontaneously. In the end I feel this is one of the best records I have released to date, so I’m very excited to share it with the world.” Making his debut in 1995, Devine’s releases for labels including Schematic, Warp Records and Detroit Underground have established him as one of the leading figures within the electronica community. In addition to his musical productions, Devine has enjoyed a lengthy and successful career in sound design, developing patches for many of the world’s leading music technology businesses and working with companies such as Google and Nike.

With 6 years since his last album, Atlanta based producer, musician and Sound-designer Richard Devine returns in full form with his upcoming record ‘Sort\Lave’ set to release on Venetian Snares’ Timesig imprint in early November.

Representing a new creative direction for Devine, ‘Sort/Lave’ reveals a more organic and spontaneous side of the idm veteran. Moving away from the cold and clinical approach of the digital realm, Richard committed to recording the new project entirely on his custom built Eurorack modular system. “I’ve been using modular synthesizers since I was 17, but have never written complete tracks using these newer systems. This was my first experiment to see if it would be possible and I probably spent about 5 years building up the systems that I used on this album.”

“I wanted the record to sound very different to my previous works which had been more cold, digital, clinical even, and had all been made using computers. The aim here was the complete opposite, to create something that felt very organic, detailed, spacious, big and warm and just as importantly, a record that you could put on and play all the way through that flowed in a seamless way.”

”It was really fun coming up with new sounds this way too, I felt like I created several I haven't heard before with this album. Some of the tracks on the album were complete accidents and evolved from something that happened spontaneously. In the end I feel this is one of the best records I have released to date, so I’m very excited to share it with the world.”

With 12 tracks of cerebellum twisting, highly intricate electronica, the album represents a milestone not only for Devine within his already impressive discography, but also for the future of modular synthesis and it’s seemingly limitless musical and sonic possibilities.

’Opaque Ke’ is the teaser track from the album and features 4 minutes of rapid fire resonators and glitched out analog transmissions. A beautiful but brief representation of the album, but really it’s just the tip of the sine wave.

Experience the full spectrum and jump on the Bandcamp pre-order (Releases Nov. 2)

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