Released on FAMOUS EP (Kompakt226) march 14, 2011.

Playground Altona

Diynamic Revisited (By David August)

Der Schmelz (David August Revision)

John Tejada - Two 0 One (Original Mix)


An epic sonic journey crossing classic Kompakt territory - from Pop Ambient to tuneful techno and house -, VAL MAIRA is not just the extended follow-up to DAVE DK's much-adored PALMAILLE 12" (KOMPAKT 277), a release that already stood out for its almost uncanny emulation of Kompakt's more impressionist panoply, but a sonic achievement in its own right - a record as delicate as it is candid, deliberately showcasing all its strengths and dodges, but ultimately - magically - amounting to so much more than the mere sum of its parts. In many ways, VAL MAIRA is the perfect Kompakt record, albeit one that Kompakt never made. Until now.

Dave's third full-length after his 2007 album on Moodmusic and a debut on Müller Records in 2000, this new offering named after a valley in the Italian mountains goes beyond admittedly impressive production skills, aiming for deeply personal expressiveness and emotional impact. From the tender dawning of opener FADE IN to the solid dance chops of enticingly grooving cuts like SMUKKE LYDE, NUEVA CANCION or COOLETTE, the record's preoccupation with the mutual dependencies of harmony and discord is quickly revealed: "I've tried to create an interlocking atmosphere of merriment and melancholy for the full duration of an album", says the producer, not withholding his intention to create something beautiful: "I hope that one can hear a little bit of hope in the tracks, like everything's going to be fine."

You might be forgiven for taking this as a massive understatement, coming from someone who seems to know a fair deal about that elusive something called human warmth. "Although you can be incredibly creative thanks to limitless digital means, I think that the biggest challenge lies in creating a link to something human, generating feelings of warmth that reach and move the listener", says Dave - painting the picture of a highly reflective artist that spends much time with fine-tuning the emotional registry of his pallet, laboring vigorously over the concept of a track as he does over its sound design: "before anything else, I need an idea and a general notion of the development of a track - just jamming doesn't work well for me." All the more surprising how all this planning and thinking translates into something as organic sounding and nearly self-emergent as HALMA, VEIRA or WHITEHILL, the latter featuring the distinctive (and decidedly human) vocals from PIPER DAVIS of Stimming fame.

One could very well describe these tracks as both intimate and sociable at the same time, a rare combination that might also account for the vivid sonic storytelling present in cuts like KRONSEE (referring to an actual lake near Dave's birthplace) or WE MIX AT SIX, the synaesthetic retelling of a delayed party at the beaches of Barcelona, where someone spray-painted the title's vital information on a t-shirt swaying in the summerly breeze. Heavily influenced by film soundtracks, drone sounds and organic noise, DAVE DK obviously feels very close to the perpetual atmospheric hum in between sounds, finding hooks and grannies in the tiniest nooks and crannies - and to hear these eleven tracks lovingly intertwining their inspirations while seemingly creating nutrient-rich textures and meaningful melodies out of thin ether remains a riveting experience even after the nth play-back.

 • The riveting new full-length from Berlin's finest DAVE DK
 • An epic sonic journey brimming with impressionist techno, pop- infused house and gorgeously textured ambient
 • 2xLP+CD edition pressed on 180gr vinyl

It's out now on
Beatport: btprt.dj/1IXg2iN
Bleep: bit.ly/1z9DLHm
iTunes: apple.co/1DVmzMV
boomkat:bit.ly/1aWwi9g
Emusic: bit.ly/1Db4d7m
Google Play: bit.ly/1PCux0G
iTunes: apple.co/1CHcoo4
Juno: bit.ly/1amCoOY
Spotify: spoti.fi/1aWwNAf
Wasabeat: bit.ly/1GZRzKY
Whatpeopleplay: bit.ly/1JDdneY

Dave DK - Smukke Lyde

02 - Reinhard Voigt - The Buddy

Retro Bloom

Awake

Olivs - Lampreia de Ovos (Original Mix)

per,mvac 131-1 Lake People "Purposely Uncertain Field Remixes"
by Redshape, Lawrence and Map.ache are out now 

Lake People - Illuminated Redshape Remix

After showcasing the finely tuned brilliance of DAVE DK's electronic impressionism with PALMAILLE (KOMPAKT 277) and full-length VAL MAIRA (KOMPAKT 326 CD 121), it's time to unlock the full floor potential of the Berlin-based producer's intricate sonic tapestry - and give some other artists a shot at this infinitely gratifying source material. Highly regarded soundsmith ISOLÉE is well-known for his prowess when it comes to indie-infused, minimalist house with a catchy twist - just think of his timeless masterpiece "Beau Mot Plage" and its visionary blend of genres. His rework of the bass-laden, atmospheric WE MIX AT SIX is no different, steaming down the sophisticated textures of the original and soaking the resulting concentrate in a stirring bounce. Internationally acclaimed producer ULRICH SCHNAUSS has a similar knack for transcending electronica and brings his expertise in ethereal soundscapes to a surprisingly throbbing, pop-instilled, decidedly epic version of KRONSEE. Brooklyn/LA-based housetronics wizard PORTABLE SUNSETS rounds off this batch of carefully minted remixes with his take on NUEVA CANCION, turning its warm, organic hum into pure rythmatic poetry.

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Nachdem wir uns auf PALMAILLE (KOMPAKT 277) und dem Langspieler VAL MAIRA (KOMPAKT 326 CD 121) mit der feinkörnigen Brillianz von DAVE DKs elektronischem Impressionismus vertraut machen durften, wird es nun Zeit das volle Tanzflurpotential seines verschachtelten Klangkosmos auszuschöpfen - und auch anderen Künstlern die Möglichkeit zu geben, ihr Können anhand des unendlich dankbaren Quellmaterials des Berliners unter Beweis zu stellen. Der hoch angesehene Klangtüftler ISOLÉE ist bestens bekannt für seine Fähigkeiten, wenn es um Indie-beweinflussten, minimalistischen House mit griffiger Wendung geht - man denke an sein zeitloses Meisterstück "Beau Mot Plage" und dessen visionären Genremix. Seine Neubearbeitung des bassbetonten, atmosphärischen WE MIX AT SIX macht da keine Ausnahme und kocht die anspruchsvollen Texturen des Originals auf ein in ordentlich Wumms geschwenktes Konzentrat herunter. Der international renommierte Produzent ULRICH SCHNAUSS bringt ein ähnliches Flair für transzendierende Elektronika an den Tisch und belegt seine Expertise für ätherische Klanglandschaften mit einem überraschend treibenden, pop-destillierten, entschieden epischen Remix von KRONSEE. Der in Brooklyn und LA sesshafte Housetronics-Magier PORTABLE SUNSETS schiesslich rundet das sorgfältig zusammengestellte Remix-Trio mit seiner Version von NUEVA CANCION ab und verwandelt dessen warmes, organisches Rauschen in reine Rhythmus-Poesie.

Michael Mayer & Tobias Thomas - Total 9 (Original Mix)

ayy

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