Stranger - Jhene Aiko (Slowcore Remix)

yung lean - agony (traumesser piano cover)

SERA028: Satellite Era presents "Soft Soil EP" - the debut project of queer multi-instrumentalist néel, formerly known as Boris Donskoff.

Out now on all major platforms: https://ffm.to/sera028

Trekking through long and humid days of a lively summer, we find ourselves yearning to take the longer route more frequently. In an effort to capture slowed moments of the expansive world around us, we turn to an eccentric up and comer to help us master meditation through downtempo and space.

It was only a couple short seasons ago that French artist néel introduced themselves to us, bringing forth handmade audio relics like a merchant traveling across the mountainous internet. We were enticed hearing the byproduct of computerized sounds blended with organic field recordings - a stark yet memorable contrast. We were then astonished to hear that these demos would only mark the beginning of this contemporary guitarist's journey into our sonic niche. With a little help from our vibrant and welcoming community, we planted their compelling seedlings into the damp dirt of our musical garden.

We are proud to unveil the latest strain of our creative harvest - one as sentimental as it is inventive. Welcome to "Soft Soil EP," the debut project of néel and a field guide to their search for a newfound sonic identity. The composition was mainly developed in an isolated countryside home, utilizing its calm yet hollowing ambiance as an instrument. This stripped-down site, sometimes lacking electricity, was then filled with recordings of various social encounters on the bustling streets of urban sprawls around Europe. This juxtaposition is celebrated throughout the EP, combining both realms into one that thoughtfully expresses how their heart splits in two. The introduction serves as a synopsis of the journey ahead, mashing environmental sounds drenched in reverb under their careful guitar plucks. "Antha" brings out a more synthesized approach to néel's overall intention, yet still sounds like electronica indulged in nature. "Softly Pushed" and "Restlessness" stand out as songs with city origins - recordings of mindless chatter and flailing metal coincide with the franticness of modern drum 'n' bass. The two are split by "Sagittarius," a ravishing track that effortlessly demands attention like an unforgettable live solo. "0011" allows the project to fade out with rustic trip-hop wielding an undeniable groove - it concludes with a captivating guitar piece that softly tops off the soil blend.

"Soft Soil EP" tells the story of an artist searching for their footing, breaking the tender ground beneath them with each cautious step toward the vast ecosystem of experimental electronic music. In néel's case, the allegory digs deeper as it unearths their harmonious roots and intertwines them with the tangible world. The mixture is equal parts personal as it is musical, paving the way for what will surely be a thrilling sonic adventure. 

Written & produced by néel
Mastered by Amir Mashayekhi
Designed by y3000w & Nic Juister

Set free by Satellite Era

BUY / STREAM

néel - Prologue

Phoenix

Support

Fastened To A Dying Animal

Over the past year, a selection of artists have been digging through the depths of their creative pursuits, for material they either cannot finish, or else would like to see adapted. These same artists and more have delved into the resulting repertoire, and emerged with new, repurposed pieces.

Out of this births the first volume of the Sustain Series: a means for artists to make use of old sounds, hoping to bring forward music that might have otherwise not seen the light of day. Thanks to the input from a variety of fantastic musicians, old material can breathe new life, sometimes in more than one form.

Find it here: bit.ly/3nW52x3

In keeping with this 'recycling' of ideas, all proceeds of the compilation here on Bandcamp will go to Conservation International, promoting sustainability and conservation across the world.

www.conservation.org/

It’s ever more important to think sustainably for the sake of our planet, and every effort we make will help curb the cataclysmic events we see shaping in front of us. Give what is feasible in these tough times, but most of all please enjoy this collection of recovered gems.

Donate

Hilyard - Limbs (Atmøsphäre Recycle)

Tracklist

01. Hymns57 - Pulling Petals from My Chest
02. Mi Cosa de Resistance - Uncertain Presence
03. Ian Hawgood - Optimism Loops
04. Melodía - Canción de los pájaros II (en un bosque de Luxemburgo)
05. Jogging House - Could
06. Norihito Suda - Codium fragile
07. Darren McClure - Charmonia
08. Rafael Anton Irisarri -  Secretly Wishing For Rain
09. Andrew Sherwell -  Approaching 03

199. Sleepy Sunday Podcast (Elm Records)

Secret Tongue

Tropic of Coldness is an Italian-US duo both based in Brussels, Belgium. David Gutman and Giovanni La Placa have been recording together since 2011 and have released through labels such as Cathedral Transmissions, Organic Industries, Shimmering Moods, Glacial Movements and Krysalisound. Their live performances have taken them across the Belgian cities as well as London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Frankfurt, and a couple of venues in The Netherlands.

Their new album ‘Human Kindness’ has been inspired by the current social and political framework, in particular the rise and mainstreaming of far-right political movements with their disheartening racism, authoritarianism, intolerance, bigotry and science-denialism, just to name a few of their contributions to the regression of mankind.

It is also dedicated to all the people who, everywhere in the world, are trying to peacefully resist and oppose the deterioration of our societies by being kind, empathic and helpful towards their fellow human beings.

In this sense, each song title is the outcome of a reflection on one of the above mentioned issues or has been inspired by a particular event. The sounds are slow and evolving as a long process of fully improvised guitar patterns are finely tuned into cathartic drones.

These pieces are landscapes that tread the finest lines: between hope and despair, fragility and strength. In between these lines are each one of us and the choices we make.
credits
released October 4, 2020

Recorded and mixed in Brussels by Tropic of Coldness between September 2018 and December 2019.
Mastered by Alessandro Rorato in December 2019.
Artwork by Tropic of Coldness
Packaging design by Harry Towell

Human Kindness

wlr082 Tropic of Coldness - Human Kindness

Please accept a free download of this track as a thank you. Thank you.

Strata - *Free Download*

Tracklist

01. Hotel Neon - Oct 13
02. Rhucle - Popol
03. Sachi Kobayashi -  Nostalgia
04. Corey Fuller - Almost
05. Steve Pacheco - Unfolding
06. Andrew Heath - Slow Moving Water
07. Ciro Berenguer -  Un jardín junto al mar
08. Simon Scott -  Apart E
09. This Valley Of Old Mountains - Vist
10. Isaac Helsen - Sotterranea
11. Gareth Dickson -  The Solid World

209. Sleepy Sunday Podcast (Elm Records)

Elm Records is an independent record label specialising in ambient and experimental music.

199. Sleepy Sunday Podcast (Elm Records)

Elm Records

Recent comments

The Ambient Collective Berlin

samo rane

Related tracks