Various Artists Tone Science Module No.8 Tone Science Live DiN:TS08

Release date 6th October 2023
Limited to 500 copies. Digipak CD format

Tone Science sub-label, from DiN records, continues to explore the world of modular synth music.

The first seven volumes on the Tone Science sub-label featured 63 musicians (9 on each album) with varying backgrounds and styles, showcasing the wonderful richness and variety inherent in the world of modular synthesis. The next step was to transfer this concept to a live performance and hence the inaugural Tone Science Live concert, which took place at the Capstone Theatre in Liverpool on the evening of 22nd April 2023. 

All five musicians were set up onstage simultaneously and each played solo before joining together at the end. Field Lines Cartographer opened the evening with a beautiful set full of glistening textures and pulsating oscillations. Next came Nigel Mullaney with a more upbeat performance, featuring the famous “Pale Blue Dot” speech from Carl Sagan which seemed very appropriate as the 22nd April was Earth Day. After a short interval, Polypores took to the stage with a breath-taking display of modular synth virtuosity, with him constantly shifting and morphing the myriad sequencer patterns and tones emanating from his modular system. DiN label boss Ian Boddy followed with a sonic trip through four ambient sections, seamlessly mixing minimal ambience with vibrant pulsing sequencers before falling away to a tranquil conclusion. After another short break, Scanner played a stunning set featuring field recordings and disarming vocal samples and building up a monumental industrial rhythm from the simplest of ingredients.

The evening ended in fine style with all five musicians taking to the stage and performing an ambient drone piece inspired by the early American minimalist composers. At the helm was Scanner, mixing and shaping the overall sound of the music as it slowly grew in intensity to fill the hall with a mesmerising wash of tones. A fitting end to what was a fantastic evening of music from five musicians coaxing such varied and beautiful sounds from their small modular systems.

The entire evening is presented as a double CD in a 6-panel Digipak with accompanying 8 page booklet. A must-have album for followers of the Tone Science series.


Track listing:

01 TSL Set 1 by Field Lines Cartographer   23:43
02 TSL Set 2 by Nigel Mullaney   27:44
03 TSL Set 3 by Polypores   22:42
04 TSL Set 4 by Ian Boddy   23:58
05 TSL Set 5 by Scanner   28:45
06 TSL Set 6 by Tone Scientists   23:58

Total Time: 151:00

Tone Science Module No.8 Tone Science Live

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Tone Science Module No.8 Tone Science Live Demo Mix

Crystal 6 transforms from a party zone into beatless ambient on the Sunday night at the legendary Harvest Festival. A good opportunity to wind down... Powered by KV2 sound, it is an amazing place to play, and to listen to music. This mix is a pretty close copy of my set there.

1/ Ott - That day we went up the Hill  (from Heads with guests Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy.)
2/ ASC - The Machinery of Night
3/ Futuregrapher - Næturhvíld
4/ Gus Till - Nias (edit)
5/ Circular - Echoes of the Past
6/ Kira Kira - Himnalag
7/ Yunomi (Ishq) - Botanical green
8/ The Black Dog - Dust Bunnies
9/ Gus Till - Empty Village Evening Part 1
10/ Subsurfing - The Number Readers (Molecularbitmap)
11/ Patricia Wolf - Woodland Encounter
12/ Roine Sangenberg - Last Night the Moon Came 
13/ Ishq - Forest Stream
14/ Desert Dwellers - Closed Eyes in a Dust Storm (Erothyme Remix)
15/ Futuregrapher - Einmanna
16/ Mystical Sun - River Goddess
17/ Ishq - Shunut
18/ Gigi Masin - Nefertiti

Crystal 6 Ambient

Benge The View From Vega DiN82

Release date 17th November 2023
Limited to 300 copies 180g Vinyl / 300 copies Digipak CD

Ben Edwards, better known by his pseudonym Benge, has been exploring the sonic possibilities of electronic instruments since he was a young boy, in the1970s.  After graduating from art school in 1990 he set up his own music studio and started recording his unique blend of experimental electronica, culminating in his debut album "Electro-Orgoustic Music" and the formation of Expanding Records in 1995. Since then he has released dozens of albums as Benge, as well as collaborating with various luminaries from the electronic music world on many other album projects. He has formed several notable and ongoing bands such as John Foxx & The Maths, Wrangler (with Stephen Mallinder / Cabaret Voltaire and Phil Winter / Tunng), Fader (with Neil Arthur / Blancmange), and his most recent project Creep Show (Wrangler + John Grant). Benge's creative output now centres around his Memetune Studio Complex, located in one of the UKs remotest moorland locations, writing and producing his various music projects as well as making video art and TV programmes about his activities.

“The View From Vega”, his debut solo album on the DiN imprint, is primarily an ambient suite of tracks inspired by the space-music typically produced in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It uses a selection of vintage synthesisers, sequencers and FX units to provide a fertile sonic landscape to explore. The idea was to use simple sequences (using both analogue and digital units), sustained synthesiser pads and electronic piano improvisations, alongside various ancient delay, flange and reverb units. The beautiful, warm quality of the tones that exude from such instruments are very evident on the six tracks that slowly unfold their oscillations in organic, melodic soundscapes.

An unashamedly vintage sounding album in all its analogue glory, “The View From Vega” is released both as a 180g Vinyl edition and a Digipak CD with stunning artwork from Wendy Carroll that matches the music perfectly.



01 The View From Vega (Part I)   06:44
02 The View From Vega (Part II)   05:07
03 The View From Vega (Part III)   06:14
01 The View From Vega (Part IV)   06:54
02 The View From Vega (Part V)   05:21
03 The View From Vega (Part VI)   07:32

Total Time :  37:54

The View From Vega

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The View From Vega by Benge (DiN82) Demo Mix

Beyond horizons, where dreams align,
Vastness unfolds in silent might.

Can you perceive it,
The echoes of stillness that resonate?

Tracklist : 
01. Lauge - Amalthea (FAINT)
02. AES Dana - Nuphar Log (Ultimae Records)
03. Claudio PRC & UNC - CXXV (TGP)
04. Luigi Tozzi - Binary Sunset (Hypnus Records)
05. Alfred Czital - Lippa (Harmony Records)
06. Surt - Medium (Claudio PRC remix) (Postdynamic Records)
07. Federico Corrado - Pulse (Noah Lyas remix) (Circular Limited)
08. Nordena - Lowlands (Self-released)
09. Save Your Atoll - Reality Check (Lotus Parable)
10. AES Dana - Peace Corrosion (Ultimae Records)
11. Basis Change - Palms (Circular Limited)
12. Adjust (BE) - Absolute (KVLTÖ Records)
13. Nordena - Basalt (Self-released)

Mastered by: AES Dana @ Ultimae Studios 
https://ultimae.com/studios/

Photo by: Zachary Keimig

Ultimae artist profile: https://ultimae.com/artists/christian-samsara/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/samsara-ultimae

• Christian Samsara • Vastness | introspectiva

Parallel Worlds Fragmented DiN83

Release date 16th February 2024
Limited to 200 copies Digipak CD

Greek synthesist Bakis Sirros who records under the name of Parallel Worlds has become a familiar name to followers of the DiN label. His debut release was “Obsessive Surrealism” (DiN26) back in 2007 and since then he has released two further solo albums, “Shade” (DiN32) and “Plector” (DiN76), as well as several collaborative albums with different artists including DiN label boss Ian Boddy & Node guru Dave Bessell.

This fourth sonic journey from Sirros on the DiN imprint sees him focusing in on his modular synthesiser systems, especially the Eurorack format with some able support from Buchla. These massive constructed patches live and breath like a crepuscular organism waking from its slumber. Indeed “Fragmented” is bookended by two wonderfully deep, textural tracks appropriately titled “Dawning” and “Sunset”. With the exception of the organ-like drone soundscape of “Time Flow” the remaining seven tracks encapsulate everything we have come to expect from this unique artist, namely dark, menacing bass lines overlaid with glitchy percussive patterns and beguiling, floating melody lines. It has certainly be noted before, but is worth reiterating, that there is a certain John Carpenter like soundtrack quality to the music of Sirros. Seemingly simplistic they shroud a wealth of detail and beauty that is revealed over repeated listening.

Lovers of Electronica, Dark Techno, Downtempo & IDM will find much to admire in “Fragmented” and this new album once again showcases the unique talent of this highly individual musician.

01 Dawning   04:43
02 Moments   05:38
03 Fragmented   05:55
04 For A While   07:48
05 Timeflow   06:10
06 Twilight   05:08
07 Source   04:58
08 Failure   05:37
09 Vactrol Engine   07:19
10 Sunset   06:10

Total Time :  59:46

Fragmented

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Fragmented by Parallel Worlds (DiN83) Demo Mix

Dave Bessell Chromatic Lightning Cage DiN84

Release date 15th March 2024
Limited to 250 copies Digipak CD

This new release from synthesist Dave Bessell sees him completing a quartet of albums loosely based on the Greek philosophy of the Four Elements, namely Fire, Water, Earth and Air. There’s certainly no doubting that “Chromatic Lightning Cage” with its vivid cover is referencing Fire but this personal odyssey started with the concept of Water on his inaugural solo album, “Analogue” released in 2010. This was followed by “Black Horses Of The Sun” (DiN47) - Air, and “Reality Engine” (DiN62) - Earth.

Bessell has also released three collaborations with Parallel Worlds on the DiN imprint as well as being part of the synth supergroup Node. It is interesting that whilst the Berlin School inspired sequencer riffs of the latter dominate the soundstage Bessell largely eschews this approach on his own albums. Rather on this and his other DiN solo releases he explores interesting harmonic progressions with a series of interlocking delicate arpeggios. This is most evident on the opening track “After Hours” as well as the beautiful closing piece “Elegy”. Elsewhere Bessell blurs the line between guitar and synth using his stringed instruments as controllers for his modular systems. His music has always had an element of the soundtrack to it and this is certainly highlighted in the track “Ariel” which has a mystical, unearthly quality to its soundscapes. Bessell has noted that the ghosts of Amon Tobin and Nils Frahm wander through this album at times which is certainly an intriguing thought.

Always one to push the boundaries Bessell has included a QR code in the Bandcamp download version of the album that opens up an augmented reality vista from the cover image. Lovers of Electronica, Downtempo, Ambient and Soundtracks will find much to admire in “Chromatic Lightning Cage” and this new album once again showcases the unique talent of this highly individual musician.

 
 01 After Hours   05:43
02 Forest Under The Sea   03:41
03 Darkening Air   07:17
04 Dream Of The Red Chamber   07:10
05 Ariel   05:01
06 Unheimlich   08:36
07 Nightshade   08:55
08 Moths   09:34
09 Elegy   06:31

Total Time :  62:46

Chromatic Lightning Cage

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Chromatic Lightning Cage by Dave Bessell (DiN84) Demo Mix

Various Artists Tone Science Module No.9 Theories and Conjectures DiN:TS09

Release date 19th April 2024
Limited to 500 copies. Digipak CD format

Tone Science sub-label, from DiN records, continues to explore the world of modular synth music.

Following the success and critical acclaim of the first eight Tone Science compilation albums,  DiN label boss Ian Boddy has collated another nine tracks from musicians of varying backgrounds  working in the realms of modular synthesis.

As the Tone Science journey continues it never ceases to amaze just how varied and individualistic  each musicians work can be. Whilst the hardware is technologically based each artist teases out a reflection of their own musical personality.

This volume kicks off with two pointillistic compositions from Loula Yorke and State Azure with intertwining sequencer patterns flowing and coiling around to create ever changing soundscapes.

After this energetic start the next pair of tracks from Theda Electronic Music and Swansither enter calmer, ambient territory where careful sculpting of synthesiser voices creates room for expression and atmosphere.

The mid-point of the album sees Sulk Rooms take us into darker territory with a drone based piece that slowly climbs from the undergrowth like some great creature arising from its slumber.

The next three tracks from Tomorrow The Cure, JacqNoise and Alex Ball are rhythmically based and showcase just how different the feel and energy of music made with modular synths can be with pure tones, deep bass and transient blips respectively. 

Finally Michael J. York leads us gently into the distance with a beautiful, shimmering cocoon of  blissful sound to close out the album.

“Tone Science Module No.9 Theories and Conjectures” continues the journey down the rabbit hole of possibilities and sound worlds inhabited by artists and musicians working in this ever fascinating and varied musical field.

01 Eala by Loula Yorke   7:44
02 Scanner by State Azure   8:23
03 Per-Bast by Theda Electronic Music   7:24
04 Muad’Dib by Swansither   7:04
05 Grasping The Eye Of The Duck by Sulk Rooms   6:43
06 Minimum by Tomorrow The Cure   6:18
07 Lono by JacqNoise   5:51
08 Adaption by Alex Ball   6:23
09 And They Shall Have Stars by Michael J. York   6:20

Total Time: 62:28

Tone Science Module No.9 Theories and Conjectures

Tone Science Module No.9 Theories And Conjectures Demo Mix

From the forthcoming album set to be released 4th July 2016.

Deep and dark ambient electronica.  May particularly appeal to fans of Biosphere and HIA.



Encrypted Transmissions - Album Excerpts

welcome to the late night electronic floating world where synths play themselves and music arises effortlessly.......
this is the ambient, soundscape project of Neil Butler from Spatialize.  Debut album Hidden Harmonic landing in early 2014.

Encrypted Transmissions - Album Excerpts

experiments in silence

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