San Francisco techno producer Derrick Boyd AKA Dead Seal delivers one of the more interesting and forward-thinking releases of 2009 with his debut album Corpus Animus for Auralism Records. The release, due out on October 13th is a dynamic translation of Dead Seal's frenetic live performances and years of home recording which have incorporated his mastery of the clarinet, guitar, and bass into the mix. The results are equal bits shoegazer techno, solid San Francisco house groove, and strikingly original musical portions- often in the same track. There is a clear vision of songwriting and cutting edge production ideas on Corpus Animus as Dead Seal ties together many disparate influences from Balearic to dripping psychedelia.

Dolgama– An icy foray into what sounds like an Eastern European modality with a rich aristocratic feel. "Dolgama" can best be described as somber with a digitally treated clarinet is transformed into a string lacrimosa.

The Triangle– Perhaps the most futuristic of the tracks on this release "The Triangle" is a nice mix of glitch and a strong organic musical aspect. Carried by a warm, dubby bass line and dense layers of intricate percussion the track is filled out by some glitchy vocal and piano snippets and some fine guitar work.

Bone Apple Tit.– Haunting synth pads, ominous vocal sounds, and a shrieking loop color this track. Interesting percussion drives it but the tension-inducing theatrics and intricate melodies add interesting new, almost gothic, dimensions to the track. 

Above Lies– A dreamy roller coaster of deep, head swirling techno with a twist of goth. The melancholic arpeggios note a distinct sojourn into reflective, shoegazer techno.

Oklearance– Imagine ghetto house complete with P-Funk synth squiggles and bumpin' vocal hook as the bones skeleton for this track . Now add liberal amounts of dense melodic sequences unravelling around that minimal boompty bounce and "voila!"

Pull The Lever– This track has a low-key deep funk/West Coast house but also includes a proper "middle eight" as found in a pop song. This section is a strong contrast to the intro with a dark,  post punk influence that is skillfully worked into the overall dynamic and feel of the entire track. The two parts interlace for something that sounds equal parts Ziggy Stardust and Berghain.

King Burk– "King Burk" is ominous, sounding like a lost Joy Division demo. Everything about this track is spine-tingling as if it was drowned in aged absinthe and the works of Poe from the wicked bass line to the dark and doomy lyrics. Atonal string sounds and a steady techno pulse help push this track into a unique creative space that lies somewhere between dance and pop.

Sword Play– Tracks like this were commonplace in the late 80s, ones that combined a dark, aggressive menace with a good danceable groove. Dead Seal revisits that vibe here with buzzsaw synths but adds strings and dub elements to give it techno's deep sense of space.

ARLSMD022 Track3 Dead Seal - Bone Apple Tit

Launched in 2007 by longtime friends, producers and DJs, Jason Short, Marc Smith, Tim Kelleher and Hac Le, San Francisco-based Auralism Records brings the minimal machinations of Berlin to the Bay Area's famously funky dance floors. Auralism's roots trace back to 2005, when Smith and Short, producing together as the duo Coalition of the Killing, realized they'd need an outlet to handle their formidable stockpile of unreleased tracks. After top-flight DJs began blowing up parties worldwide with their white labels, they knew what needed to be done: the only way to give the music the forum it deserved was to release it themselves. Thus began the vision for a driven, analog-centric label that will finally get Bay Area techno noticed by its European counterparts.

From its original conception as a conduit for COTK's output, the imprint has since matured into a diversified, international roster of artists both seasoned and newly arrived, including Elon (Made to Play), Alland Byallo (Kontrol SF), Miguel Colmenares (Subtropical), and Limaçon (Poker Flat). Auralism is very much a cooperative, encouraging its artists to experiment within its twisted, propulsive blueprint while pushing them to the outer limits of impeccable sound design. The label has also hit the ground running with some of the dirtiest throwdowns that San Francisco has seen in years, importing talents like Pier Bucci, Lee Curtiss, Billy Dalessandro, Appendics Shuffle, Exercise One, and Pan-Pot to go head-to-head with the label's residents. With a release schedule jam-packed with new material, plus remixes commissioned from scene stalwarts such as Argenis Brito, Justin Maxwell, and Franklin De Costa, Auralism has firmly entrenched itself as a label to watch in 2007. 

ARLSMD022 Track3 Dead Seal - Bone Apple Tit

Auralism Records

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