www.seeblueaudio.com | linktr.ee/see_blue_audio

Steve Hadfield – See Blue Audio (previews)

'See the World Anew Vol. 1'
Steve Hadfield
See Blue Audio SBA 023

1. Moonlight
2. Ascension
3. Mesosphere
4. Detached
5. Orbit
6. Gravity

Release date: 27 August 2021

lnk.to/SBA023

See Blue Audio: ambient / electronic / beatless / cinematic / downtempo / eclectic / introspective… Shade rather than light...

2021 is turning into a transformative year for Steve Hadfield. The changes in his personal life have been mirrored by the changes on a global scale that are affecting us all. This process has caused him to look at the world around him with fresh eyes, and it has become the inspiration for a new series of music, 'See the World Anew', the first volume of which will be his fifth collection for See Blue Audio and the twenty-third release on the label.

This year is also proving to be one of his most prolific as an artist. Releases like 'Bangers and Mash' for the Bricolage imprint, 'The Silly Baby LP' on Disintegration State, and, most recently, the 'Industrial Chillout Complex' album on Werra Foxma Records have seen Steve explore different musical territories and rediscover earlier influences, including techno, IDM, industrial, drum & bass and breakbeat. 'See the World Anew' is a return to the other side of his musical character, which has found a home at See Blue Audio, and his distinctive fusion of ambient/modern classical and glitchy electronics.

Accompanying these audio explorations has been the growth of his daughter from a baby to a young child with an increasing awareness and fascination for the world that surrounds her. In fact, his parental experiences are a thread that runs throughout Steve's music, and 'See the World Anew Vol. 1' captures this new phase of discovery and enchantment. As we falteringly emerge from the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, people are, quite literally, reacquainting themselves with the outside world, an experience full of wonder for the nature that is all around us and, in particular, the night sky. This experience is surely shared by millions of other inhabitants of this planet, who can once again glimpse the sky above us with the thrilling delight of a child. As adults, we have an added dimension of uncertainty – the so-called new normality – but for now we can immerse ourselves in the moment.

All these different but converging forces have found expression over the six succinct but diverse tracks that make up 'See the World Anew Vol. 1'. Light and shadow, day and night, calm and chaos, joy and apprehension, and the random fragments that make up the substance of our world. Tiny specks in the distance noticed by a child long before the adults buried in their own thoughts; garden gates, familiar paths, shadows dancing on walls, wispy clouds, and above them all, the moon. The companionship of warm summer nights become a spiritual refuge even as they inevitably fade, but somehow the magic of moon remains with its constant rhythm of waxing and waning. It's this allure of the moon and an imagined journey into the silence of space that forms the creative basis of the music. What great powers must it surely take to escape the pull of the Earth's atmosphere.

The opening track, 'Moonlight', references the earlier 'Gaze of the Moon' from 'Displacement Activity Vol. 1' released in January 2020, and from there we follow a path through different moods and atmospheres that soundtrack his fascination with the moon. Beatless soundscapes are juxtaposed with bleeps and irregular pulses; the electronic effervescence of 'Mesosphere' is followed by the mercurial beats and snatches of voice on 'Detached'. Finally, 'Gravity', as the title implies, drag us back to earth with its lo-fi, almost metallic, ghostly sonic landscape.

As he has experienced in real life, Steve Hadfield invites us to look at the world in a new light with this music. Relive that wonder of childlike discovery, even if it is fleeting and the gravitational forces of life pull us down again.

Photography: R.Cleveland Aaron.

See the World Anew Vol. 1

'See the World Anew Vol. 1' (preview) – Steve Hadfield (See Blue Audio SBA #023)

'See the World Anew Vol. 2'
Steve Hadfield
See Blue Audio SBA 037

1. Manta Ray
2. Spider Crabs
3. Six-Gilled Shark
4. The Deep Blue Sea
5. Seahorse
6. The Dead Whale

Release date: 8 July 2022

lnk.to/SBA037

See Blue Audio: ambient / electronic / beatless / cinematic / downtempo / eclectic / introspective… Shade rather than light...

It's almost a year since the last release from Steve Hadfield on See Blue Audio, 'See the World Anew Vol. 1', which marked the end of summer and a period of transformation both in his personal life and the world around him. This caused Steve to look at everything with fresh eyes, and nearly a year later, and to herald the beginning of summer this time around, we have 'See the World Anew Vol. 2', his sixth collection for See Blue Audio and the thirty-seventh release on the label.

The moon provided inspiration for volume one, and for its successor we turn to the sea; in particular, the vast oceans and the creatures that dwell within their depths. As always, Steve's creative process is highly personal and influenced by the growth of his daughter, but also forged in the cauldron of world events. From a global pandemic and populist politics to war and humanitarian crisis, it's difficult not to view the world with a mixture of wonder and dread. This is reflected in the variety of music Steve has released recently, including 'Rhubarb and Custard' for the Bricolage imprint and a forthcoming album on Waxing Crescent Records, but 'See the World Anew Vol. 2' is a return to the distinctive fusion of ambient/modern classical and glitchy electronics that always characterises his output on See Blue Audio.

As 'See the World Anew Vol. 1' was inspired by post-pandemic gazing at the night sky with his daughter, volume two also takes its cue from another visual experience: her fascination with sea creatures as seen on the television from an early age. Naturally, David Attenborough's renowned aquatic programmes were her guide, and 'The Deep' from 'The Blue Planet' series, where the carcass of a whale serves as a feeding ground for other creatures at the bottom of the ocean, kept her spellbound through numerous viewings. Steve also noticed how the soundtrack empathised the struggles of nature, and this new collection is drawn from seeing his daughter connect with this fabulous world and the joy it created within him.

'See the World Anew Vol. 2' follows a similar pattern to volume one with six succinct but diverse tracks. 'Manta Ray' opens the second collection and its beatless landscape and marine sounds set the scene perfectly, but danger is lurking in the shadows. In contrast, 'Spider Crabs' is a mass of jittery beats and anxious sounds as if moving fast is an imperative. The music takes a deeper dive on 'Six-Gilled Shark' with brooding synths and stealthy strings that reflect the predatory nature of this animal. Steve's daughter takes centre stage on 'The Deep Blue Sea' and her sampled chatter alongside playful melodies reminds us that fascination with the natural world is a vital part of the human experience. This theme continues on 'Seahorse' where Steve recreates the delicate nature of these creatures and their gentle movements in sublime style. It also provides a pause for reflection before the epic closing track.

'The Dead Whale' takes us to the origin of this aquatic odyssey. Like the event itself, it combines humility in the face of nature expressed through a beatless, symphonic soundscape, and awe at the might of the ocean with its spine-tingling crescendo. The cycle of life is now complete, and we are bystanders who can only look and learn.

As with its predecessor, 'See the World Anew Vol. 2' is an invitation through music from Steve Hadfield to look at the world in a new light. Sparked by childlike discovery but created using the contemplation that comes with the passing of time. it's a magnificent way to welcome the warmth of summer and the renewal it brings.

Photography: R.Cleveland Aaron.

See the World Anew Vol. 2

'See the World Anew Vol. 2' (preview) – Steve Hadfield (See Blue Audio SBA #037)

'Displacement Activity Vol. 1'
Steve Hadfield
See Blue Audio SBA 004

1. The Sunlight
2. Tremors
3. Space
4. Reflections
5. Gaze of the Moon
6. Middle Distance

Release date: 31 January 2020

lnk.to/SBA004

See Blue Audio: ambient / electronic / beatless / cinematic / downtempo / eclectic / introspective… Shade rather than light...

See Blue Audio begins 2020 with another release from Steve Hadfield following on from the 'Temporary Lapse' EP. 'Displacement Activity Vol. 1' is the first in a series of collections of music with the second volume to be released later in the year and more to follow. Over its six tracks, Steve reveals a different side to his sound and influences, and one born out of his recent personal experiences: ambient/modern classical with glitchy electronics.

Drawing on his passion for defining experimental and ambient artists like Alva Noto, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Murcof, Steve set out to craft his own style which reaches its conclusion with the 'Displacement Activity' series. Field recordings also form part of his musical landscape; likewise, Steve's fascination with space and how Planet Earth could appear as seen from faraway. Displaced, in other words, with the full title referencing a spaceship in Iain M. Banks's science fiction novel 'The Hydrogen Sonata'.

Using his imagination as a starting point – does the Moon view the Earth with the same reverence? – and slowly finding his musical path, Steve was also brought back to reality with the impending arrival of his first child in 2019. An intoxicating mix of excitement, nervousness and uncertainty is reflected in this music, not least as the rise of far-right politics worldwide provided a distressing backdrop. This vast array of ideas and emotions has seeped into 'Displacement Activity', which uses a similarly wide range of sounds and textures from beatless soundscapes to dramatic electronica.

'The Sunlight' opens the collection and, as the title suggests, it's a burst of warm celestial light based around rich synth sounds that slowly transform into something more brittle and with a churchlike intensity. 'Tremors' follows and the theme of space is further explored; this is a journey into the deep beyond where fear and paranoia creep into the edges of your mind. By way of contrast, 'Space' is a short sketch of morphing piano notes that takes us back to some kind of natural world.

'Reflections' continues the piano form but is then slowly enveloped by ghostly electronic fragments. The feeling is one of gentle awakening and the discovery of new life. As the title 'Displacement Activity' suggests, these tracks are also about contrast, and we get that with 'Gaze of the Moon', where our perception of reality is shaped from another angle. Drone-like electronic calm is punctured by sudden rushes of cold, piercing light before sliding back into the shadows.

Completing 'Displacement Activity Vol. 1' is 'Middle Distance' with its shimmering ambience, and its dreamlike quality is a fitting conclusion to this extraordinary collection of music. With this release, Steve Hadfield has pushed through the boundaries of his own musical knowledge and capabilities, but also taken a journey inward and shared his inner psyche.

Displacement Activity Vol. 1

'Displacement Activity Vol. 1' (preview) – Steve Hadfield (See Blue Audio SBA #004)

'Displacement Activity Vol. 2'
Steve Hadfield
See Blue Audio SBA 006

1. Resonant Delinquencies
2. Flashing Lights
3. Well
4. Displacement Activity
5. It's All I Ever Had

Release date: 22 May 2020

lnk.to/SBA006

See Blue Audio: ambient / electronic / beatless / cinematic / downtempo / eclectic / introspective… Shade rather than light...

Steve Hadfield returns to See Blue Audio for his third release on the label and the second instalment of his 'Displacement Activity' series. 'Displacement Activity Vol. 1' was released at the beginning of the year and received much praise, including a review in Issue 61 of Electronic Sound magazine, and online support. More recently, he’s released the 'Unreality' album on Disintegration State, the label he co-founded, which reflects the IDM side of his music, and is packed with drums, basslines, vintage synths and a general feeling of turbulence. A soundtrack for these days, in other words.

The approach and now reality of parenthood in an ever-changing, often destructive world has made a major impact on Steve's creative process. On 'Displacement Activity Vol. 2' he returns to a more reflective style with another five tracks of ambient/modern classical, glitchy electronics and warped piano compositions.

The opening track, 'Resonant Delinquencies', sets a gentle mood for this new collection of music with delicate melodies and intricate percussion. It’s followed by 'Flashing Lights', which takes a deeper, shadowy turn with sombre piano tones and sonorous strings. 'Well', meanwhile, is a short piano sketch reminiscent of 'Space' from volume one, before drifting into ghostly atmospherics.


The title track, 'Displacement Activity', continues this haunted sensibility with flickering percussion and subtle distortions of sound. The overall effect is one of peace and calm, but with an underlying current of tension implying that this calm is also fragile and can be easily fractured. The world is in constant flux, as the title and indeed both volumes of 'Displacement Activity' suggest.

Closing volume two is 'It's All I Ever Had', another beatless  piano piece bathed in echo and the glinting light of electronic haze. It's a fine ending to a captivating collection of music from Steve Hadfield, where light meets shadow and hope meets sorrow. He is already working on ideas for volume three.

Displacement Activity Vol. 2

'Displacement Activity Vol. 2' (preview) – Steve Hadfield (See Blue Audio SBA #006)

'Displacement Activity Vol. 3'
Steve Hadfield
See Blue Audio SBA 012

1. Reflected
2. Blossom Is a Vector
3. Ever Onward
4. Liminal Night Feeds
5. Alone, Dark

Release date: 6 November 2020

lnk.to/SBA012

See Blue Audio: ambient / electronic / beatless / cinematic / downtempo / eclectic / introspective… Shade rather than light...

Back in January 2020, Steve Hadfield released the first instalment of 'Displacement Activity', which was also his second release on See Blue Audio, when the COVID-19 pandemic was just an approaching blip on the radar. Its release also coincided with the delights and challenges of becoming a parent for the first time. Volume two followed in May as we were in the midst of a strange new world, and Steve’s music had taken on a more reflective, shadowy tone as the world grappled with confinement, and his parenting took on a higher level of intensity than perhaps originally anticipated, while all around uncertainty raged.

Ten months on and as one of the most remarkable years of modern times draws to a close, we have 'Displacement Activity Vol. 3', the twelfth release on See Blue Audio, and five tracks in Steve’s trademark fusion of ambient/modern classical and glitchy electronics. The first two volumes of 'Displacement Activity' were written prior to coronavirus as Steve was beginning to see the early signs of conflict and dark political forces, and then think about how these could be navigated through parenthood. Those warnings are turning into reality alongside the pandemic. This gives the music its shadowy feel, and it seems particularly apt that these latest tracks are being released as we approach a time when some kind of 'new normality' sits uneasily beside the fresh storm clouds that may be gathering, virus-related, social and political.

There are a range of different moods on 'Displacement Activity Vol. 3', and it was forged during a time when the pandemic inevitably casts its shadow. The opening track, 'Reflected', is a reworking of 'Reflections' from 'Displacement Activity Vol. 1', and more ghostly, beatless atmospherics, but with the same lightness of touch and sense of adventure (the original was composed before the birth of his daughter, while the new version reflects the joy she has brought).

The more uptempo, percussive 'Blossom Is a Vector' with its layers of warped piano and strings, and 'Ever Onward', which takes the mood down a notch with melancholy piano notes and electronic distortion, both retain this sense of warmth and promise. The former was composed after the family's first walk in the local park following the relaxation of lockdown, where a nine-month-old could finally see nature, but not touch it; fear of infections transmission still couldn't take away the wonder of this new experience. The latter, meanwhile, captures a time when the gripes of mild illness descend into sleep with the soothing accompaniment of improvised music.

'Liminal Night Feeds', as the name suggests, is all about the nocturnal rhythms of infants: the space between waking and sleep, breathing and movement, and parental synchronisation. The music takes on a jittery, almost illusory quality as time and space fold in on themselves.

As with the first two volumes of 'Displacement Activity', the final track sees Steve take a leftfield turn. As the mood changes to a more claustrophobic atmosphere through 'Ever Onward' and 'Liminal Night Feeds', it might be expected that this would continue inwards and downwards. In contrast, Steve flings open the window to let in bursts of electronic light underpinned by defiant beats and a pulsating bassline. It's a jagged, hesitant kind of hope – how could it be otherwise in these times – but hope, nonetheless. The future is unwritten, and we end on a note of positivity. New music, new challenges and a new optimism will surely come.

Photography: R.Cleveland Aaron.

Displacement Activity Vol. 3

'Displacement Activity Vol. 3' (preview) – Steve Hadfield (See Blue Audio SBA #012)