[Release] Deepchord – Sommer (Soma Records)

If you listen to dub techno, then chances are you have come across Deepchord. If this is your first time, then welcome to an audible masterpiece from Rod Modell. An album still heavily characteristic of Deepchord previous works, however this album seems to be lighter than the previous deep & heavy atmospheres created in Liumin and Hash Bar Loops. Sampling more more sounds from nature as opposed to the previous albums which featured field recordings from Tokyo and Amsterdam. I felt a little too overwhelmed by the field recordings in Liumin, I could never get into a groove with that album. I wanted to hear more melodies, chords and echos as opposed to the constant wash-over of the urbanised hussle and bussle, I do love urban field recordings in tracks but only if they are in the background. Sommer appears to answer some of those feelings.

It’s hard to get the perfect balance though, I wish Sommer used more of the field recordings in Liumin and I wish Liumin used more of the chords and beats in Sommer. But I feel Sommer is definitely a step in the right direction.

There is just something about nature and dub techno that I love so much, sounds of birds, waves, wind blowing through trees seem to match perfectly with the slow ethereal vibe that the trademark reverberating chords and pads create in dub techno. Tracks like Aeronautics are a perfect example of this.

There is not one bad track in this album, which might not seem as a surprise, but believe me, it’s very hard to make a 13 track dub techno album and not run out of steam, imagination and vision once you start getting into 8+ tracks. Too many albums (and this goes for all genres) have a few superb tracks in them and then seem to drop in quality and it just feels like the artist lumped together any old track to fill the space.

Like most of the other Deepchord stuff this is once again, a genre defining album, and something that I know I could give to a non dub techno listener for them to discover this music in it’s finest form.  I certainly had a relaxing afternoon listening to this album, sit back and stick it on and smile.

Following on from the dark intensity of Hash Bar Loops, 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. Deepchords characteristic manipulation of space and time is still intact and is an integral part of Sommers 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 soundfield. Atmospheric warmth and engrossing layers are expertly woven, many of the source-recordings were made on a beach near the artists home. Wind chimes, circulating air, and a marine sounds give this album a distinct identity rarely experienced in the sphere of digital music. A rare amalgamation of deep organic-atmospherics and dance music. A living breathing organism, quite unlike anything else. Light and aquatic feeling, with a few darker introspective moments later in the album, but it never gets foreboding or overly heavy.

The overall mood here is evocative of warm summer evenings, and is equally effective on a PA with a crowd, as it is on the beachside with headphones alone. An August release date coincides perfectly with the albums themes and will be a powerful addition when played out over the summer and on into the autumn as part of Deepchords thoughtful, expansive sets, which should be plentiful in the coming months.

Tracklist

01. Glow
02. Aquatic
03. Cruising Towards Dawn
04. The Universe as a Hologram
05. Beneteau
06. Fourier
07. Aeronautics
08. Flow-Induced Vibrations
09. Spring Mist
10. Amber
11. Alfama
12. Gliding
13. Wind Farm

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