'hycean'
Rhombus Index
See Blue Audio SBA 055

1. Elytron
2. Giiflora
3. Digital Anemone
4. Polyeme
5. Tine
6. Flotsam
7. Coastal Curve

Release date: 20 September 2024

lnk.to/SBA055

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

Following 'Mutual Expression', his recent collaborative project with f5point6, Rhombus Index returns with a solo album, 'hycean'. This will be his fourth release on See Blue Audio and represents a further step in the artist's musical evolution; this is a world where the interplay between the organic and the digital takes centre stage, and it has a special resonance in these days of artificial intelligence and machine learning. 'hycean' is the fifty-fifth release on See Blue Audio and, reflecting their symbiotic relationship, a new solo album from f5point6, 'A Random Sequence of Events', will also be released on the same day. An art booklet of images generated during the creation of 'hycean' is included with the album.

As an electronic artist from West Yorkshire, Rhombus Index inhabits a geographical and historical space where modern, industrial society and the power of nature collide. It's only logical, therefore, that these contradictory forces come out in his music. 'hycean' is an exploration of sounds that evoke images of organically grown digital creatures and objects. The typically enigmatic track titles, artwork and video for 'Digital Anemone' serve as a guide for the listener: imagine a future evolution of organic beings merging with digital inorganic entities to form a new kind of life.

The production tools used on 'hycean' include generative sequencers, field recordings, wavetable synthesis and rompler synthesisers, while the closing track, 'Coastal Curve', was developed using sonification of coastal path measurement data. These techniques and references to areas like video game technology are a constant thread in the work of Rhombus Index, and the natural and digital worlds are ever crashing into each other in a kind of dance.

Over the seven tracks of 'hycean', the pastoral electronic sound of Rhombus Index is in full effect. The embrace of washes of warm synth chords, beats fall like smatterings of spring rain, and that playful elegance abundantly found in nature. Faster tempos on tracks like 'Flotsam' add another dimension, while remaining essentially ambient. The artist has always drawn influences from the dancefloor and rave culture, and 'Digital Anemone' captures the kind of Balearic aura that is the essence of dance music. The beatless aesthetic of See Blue Audio is also represented on 'Elytron' and 'Polyeme'.

'Digital Anemone' was created in reverse with the video elements made first and then the music written to fit the video. The sounds of digital anemone creatures are heard in the opening minute as high pitch synth warbles. Once the track was completed, it was then fed back into the video to make it audio reactive.

The accompanying eight-page, full colour booklet contains conceptual images that were created using a generative process applied during developing the image for the cover artwork. These images could be seen as depicting the new digital flora and fauna that has evolved alongside the music. The booklet also contains fragments of data, but what these data sets mean and how they relate to the images is for the listener to figure out should they wish.

A gentle harmony runs throughout 'hycean', but this harmony is not without contrast and conflict. The album is a personal reflection on the fusing of organic and digital realities, and the journey of discovery that the introduction of generative artificial intelligence has brought into our lives. We have little idea how it will end. With its lightness of touch and moments of rare beauty, 'hycean' thoroughly deserves to be enjoyed and recognised as a richly insightful piece of work.

Image: Loui Binns.

hycean

'hycean' (preview) – Rhombus Index (See Blue Audio SBA #055)

My remix of @thenewhuman track "Thought Patterns".

It's the opening track from his fantastic "Proximity Mantra" album on my label, Bricolage.

Limited number of tapes available. 
https://bricolageglasgow.bandcamp.com/album/proximity-mantra-bc087

We're also launching a remix competition for the track to celebrate our 9 year anniversary as a label. Full info and stems at the link below.
https://bricolageglasgow.bandcamp.com/album/thought-patterns-remix-competition

Proximity Mantra (bc087)

Proximity Mantra

The New Human - Thought Patterns (Fragile X remix)

Digital release date: 08 November 2024
Link hub: https://music.imusician.pro/a/cACZyWZf
Bandcamp: https://ecunderground.bandcamp.com/album/another-level

A welcoming addition to the roster of EC Underground, Roi (https://soundcloud.com/roi-fanzine) makes a name for his unique brand of acid house with the release of his new EP Another Level.

This solid slab of dance music comes from a Spanish sound producer and offers a blend of traditional house and techno with a backbone of everything EDM. Consistency makes Another Level stand out among its peers with stable track duration, slightly glitchy beats, and evermore bubbling bass.

In the realm of Spanish electronic music, Roi stands out for his relentless innovation and deeply personal sound. As co-director of the Fanzine project and partner with The Panic Room, he embodies the spirit of pure electronic music, blending genres to craft sets that are as introspective as they are danceable. His rapport with audiences and commitment to pushing musical limits establish him as a cultural influencer and a guiding light for aspiring DJs and producers.

Written and produced by Roi Grobas Rocha https://linktr.ee/Roi_fanzine 
Mastering by Lefrenk
Artwork by moiCflo
© Roi | ℗ EC Underground 2024 https://ecunderground.com

Download and stream

Roi - Alluvial

528 - 2

Memento Mori

Flake113 0127

Elitepop is a monthly radio show by Enfant Terrible for Intergalactic FM (IFM/CBS). A new episode is transmitted every first Monday of the month on the Cybernetic Broadcasting System channel at IFM for 1 hour from 21.00h onwards… No talking... just music!

Episode 56 was transmitted January 2025 and this episode is one hour of obscure 80’s music...


Elitepop #56

Format: CD, Digital
Pre-order: 14th March 2025
Release date: 21st March 2025

This album has its origins in North and South America. As is usual with most of my music, the field recordings came first, and the modular synth sourced music followed.
The field recording for Distant Thunder was recorded outside my home on an exceptionally hot day at the end of June. I returned home from a family reunion in the mountains to 100 degrees on my car thermometer upon entering Charlotte, NC. That is not normal but unfortunately appears to be becoming the new normal. There was a massive thunderstorm nearby that never materialized directly over my home. However, the auditory part of the outlying storm was significant enough to warrant recording it. The accompanying music reflects the somber realization that we humans are causing increasingly extreme weather conditions here on planet earth. The “moon echo mix” in the track name is a nod to the impressive Hainbach plugin that AudioThing rolled out this summer. I used it on virtually every track in this song.
The field recordings for the second and third track are from a vacation to Peru the latter half of July. We traveled to Urubamba in the Sacred Valley. There is a special energy to this place that comes from the people, beautiful natural surroundings and history of the Aztecs that seemingly permeates the air. I traveled twice to hike at a nearby small town named Yucay which is where both the field recordings were made.
Yucay Part 1 (riochuelo San Juan) features the sounds of my trek next to a beautiful river that flowed past the trail. I met very few people during this hike although eventually three local dogs joined me. The lack of human interaction led to an almost mystical experience with the natural surroundings. I hope the music reflects this unusual encounter with nature and her elements.
Yucay Part 2 (via sin nombre) also includes the sound of water. Earlier that day, I had completed a strenuous and somewhat risky scramble to some Aztec tombs on the side of a mountain. Afterwards, I took respite beside a small aqueduct that ran past the short trail to a summit that included a large Peruvian flag. I was unable to figure out the name of this place hence the name of the track. Once again, there was minimal human interaction and that led to a time of quiet contemplation.
The theme of oneness with nature reoccurs again and again in my music. One explanation for this recurring cycle is I rely on natural experiences for my mental health. The musical expressions of this time outdoors are equally important to my ongoing positive emotional state.
Special thanks go to Andrea and my sounding boards Paul and Pietro. Thanks as well to all who listen to my music. 

Copyright © 2025 ROHS! RECORDS, All Rights Reserved



previews. d york - Naturally Indwelling | ROHS!

'hycean' (preview) – Rhombus Index (See Blue Audio SBA #055)

See Blue Audio

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