

Steadily mining gold in an ever-evolving electronic landscape, the Visionquest imprint gets set to unleash an incredibly special 6-track EP from Clarian - one half of the supreme duo Footprintz. Collaborating with the always-innovative Guy Gerber on the opener, Clarian voyages solo throughout the rest of the EP – a collective of ‘Chemical Gardens’ for a sonically re-imagined Blade Runner kingdom.

Beach Boys oohs on top of Camino 808 lines with Morriconne style piano licks over a zombie meets deep house track - the ‘Chemical Gardens EP’ is a patchwork of cross-genres and moods. The A-side covers ethereal sunrise magic and cosmic oddities opening with ‘Claire’ featuring Guy Gerber - an emotive beauty in which dubby beats dissolve into a motif of synth stabs, sweet electronic melodies and rising waves of filtered vox. ‘Destroy, She Says’ is a haunting dream of hypnotic keys and heavy drums while ‘Renaissance’ is simply a magical set closer that alludes to an innocent era of rave.

Taking the listener deeper into the night ‘Remove Control’ kicks off the B-side with a jagged electronic bassline tight snares and shakers and a powerful vocal while ‘Through Your Mind feat. J’ drops a heavy dose of acid with a mechanical sleazy vibe. Closing track ‘U’ is all about the build against the naked drum groove, moody bass synths and echoing vox. Clarian’s chemical gardens and Visionquest are clearly meant to be and these shimmering towers of sound are likely to remain a highlight of the imprints illustrious cannon. A truly innovative and groundbreaking release, that further cements Clarian’s standing as an incredible talent.


TRACK LISTING

    A1. Clarian & Guy Gerber - Claire
    A2. Clarian - Destroy, She Says
    A3. Clarian - Renaissance
    B1. Clarian - Remove Control
    B2. Clarian - Through Your Mind feat. Spaceman
    B3. Clarian - U (Unfinished

B1. Clarian - Remove Control

vi•sion quest (noun): a search for personal communication with the spirit world. 

Every mystical journey eventually comes to a fork in the road. The seeker of life’s destiny has two options: remain satisfied with whatever level of consciousness he has already attained, or push forward into ever-new domains of promise and possibility. 2014 sees dance music’s best-known spiritual pilgrims, the Visionquest trio of Ryan Crosson, Lee Curtiss, and Shaun Reeves, bravely embarking upon that wondrous journey. Each member of this celebrated DJing and production team contributes a distinct yet interlocking vision that together forms a seamless, organic whole. Just think of Crosson’s enthusiastic shuffle, Lee’s soulful stare, Shaun’s soft touch. Everything they craft has the same unmistakable flair: slow-burning, shape-shifting, expansive techno and house marked by compositional elegance and unabashed pop hooks.

Although long-time partner and co-conspirator Seth Troxler has stepped aside to pursue other projects, 2013 was the biggest year ever for the four. Inspired by the passing of the Mayan calendar, the group embarked upon Visionquest 13, 13 dates where the boys not only played together the whole night, but curated a true multimedia experience. From London to Buenos Aires, from the American hinterland to the Chilean wilderness, Visionquest 13 was a Freudian trip into the deepest recesses of the Detroit rave unconscious, what Ibiza Voice described as a “collective expedition into the depths of your soul”—but with a sophisticated, modern twist.

Their accomplishments are well-known and too many to list. For starters: a critically acclaimed 2011 Fabric mix; year-defining hit remixes for artists as diverse as Kiki, Wareika, Tracey Thorn, and David Lynch; showcases and dates in the biggest clubs and festivals around the world; and the creation of a now iconic-label that’s played host to dancefloor weaponry from the likes of Benoit & Sergio, Life & Death, Dinky, and Laura Jones—all this while each member maintained significant individual production and DJ careers. But, by definition, no journey dwells in the past. So in 2014 they launched Visionquest Special Editions, a limited-release, vinyl only label. Evoking the experimental sounds of the European techno avant-garde that first inspired the boys back in Detroit, the debut release, remixes of Montreal songwriter Quilla, features a stunning collaboration between Shaun and long-time hero Ricardo Villalobos. With Visionquest Special Editions we see the group at home at a breezy, gentle afterparty, not just igniting the club. As Visionquest winds around the corner into their bright future, they remain open and excited for what lies ahead.

B1. Clarian - Remove Control

Visionquest Records