Satellite Era shows how many great producers are out there in need of being discovered by a wider audience, even amongst the advanced music connoisseur bubble.
Four experimental gems
The seventh edition of the Distant Arrays compilation series put out by the Chicago imprint Satellite Era shows how many great producers are out there in need of being discovered by a wider audience, even amongst the advanced music connoisseur bubble. This short release brings four experimental gems by artists from Japan, Romania, the US and Spain.
The opener, “Ait6 U1,” produced by Japanese artist Ton Mise, at first defies the laws of rhythm, in resemblance to an Autechre-esque search for discomfort, until the listener gets the beat and follows the flow within the intense array of glitches cut by intermissions of a lovely yet intriguing synth lead to complete the mysterious feel to the track.
The second one, called “Ivicate,” by Romanian producer Hexalyne, maintains the 90s IDM vibe on a composition full of panning liquified and distorted percussion complemented by noise and micro-samples that may bring distinguishable timbres to mind. Later on, as a subtle warm synth layer approaches in search of expression, the noise complexity leaves space for beauty in the form of melody.
Within the intense array of glitches ::
For the third tune, Portland-based producer Naudible, composed a drum and bass piece called “Vase.” The beginning of the track can trick you into thinking it will evolve in a smooth jazzy path. Nonetheless, its feminine vocal insertion in the mid part, complemented by a soothing synth pad, transports us back to the golden years of Metalheadz. But if you think Naudible stops the experience here, you’re wrong. The closing, structured over a trap-like broken beat, that for a Brazilian like me would flirt with the Funk Carioca genre, brings a more up-to-date feel. Watch out for the sub freqs!
Spanish producer AZ-Rotator closes the release with “Tr4nS_v4,” a piece that reconnects with the beginning of the audition, as it awards the listener with beat complexity and drilling noises, yet followed by a simpler melodic progression with repetition, which is more than enough to hypnotize brain dancers like me.
A great release if you like Autechre, Astrobotnia, Goldie, and Plaid.
Distant Arrays Volume 7 is available on Satellite Era. [Bandcamp]
