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"
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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