"Element Five" is masterfully weaved into a sublime sonic submersion from A601-2 (Rod Modell), cool watery depths of sound shimmer in this immersive sonic landscape. The reshape is over 60 minutes of some of the most engaging and inspired atmospheric work we've ever heard, a blissful analog bubble bath. A cerebral epic where time seems to stand still, an exquisite portrayal of the power of restraint and repetition, sonically enriching and emotionally engaging. Utilizing field recordings, synthesized harmonics developed by the frequencies from wind gusts, hydrophones and a neurophone to give one the sensation of transportation to a natural environment they know but haven't heard or felt in this realm. There were many locations used in these recordings but the vast majority were done in and around the Detroit area and in Tokyo, Japan. Sonic immersion of the highest order!
Thoughts and words on the previous vortexual projects:
According to Echospace's Stephen Hitchell, the second part of the Vortextual series, under his Variant ambient alias, was designed as a "soundtrack for traveling alone in the outer depths of space". In other words, it's another continuous, hour-long journey, where soft focus dub techno rhythms and echo-laden textures rub shoulders with misty-eyed chords and slowly evolving melodies. While effectively a variation on a theme, it packs a little more percussive punch than its' predecessor, whilst still drifting from the speakers in an impressively weightless manner. As usual, it's a limited CD pressing, so grab it while you can to avoid disappointment. -Juno
Stephen Hitchell (Deepchord/Echospace) coaxes out an hour long trip into the dub mist of his machines. Prepare the floatation tank…! -Boomkat
Element Two of this sprawling science-fiction epic from Stephen Hitchell a.k.a one-half of Detroit techno duo, Echospace. 59 minutes in duration, it was originally composed and produced for Detroit's Movement Festival, where Hitchell delivered a spacious, dubbed-out live performance. This second Element sees him take the matter yet further horizontal than the already brilliant Element One. In his own words this suite is a “soundtrack for traveling alone in the outer depths of space, your mind setting the tone for its journey, not yet understood. This is music to love to, to pray to, to heal to, to float in & drift away”. Long sold out from the artist, this is Limited Edition Replicated CD packaged with Chrome Sticker in re-sealable poly sleeve. -Bleep
Sound meditation on time and space.
One of the biggest events on the electronic scene is the annual Detroit Movement Festival. Many local artists preparing for this occasion a special video that publish in limited editions. So also did Stephen Hitchel, realizing this year's edition of the event new songs of his project Variant. Two versions of the composition "Vortexual" first met his fans who are this summer at the Movement Festival, and now - they reach us in the form of two compact discs.
"Vortexual (Item One)" is a psychedelic vision of music Variant entered in the formula zdubowanego ambient. Its guiding principle is to modulate the sound by manipulating its frequency. The song begins with a tangled together streams of sewage noise. At some point, it will be complemented by a massive pulse of powerful bass, introductory together widely diffuse wave gently flowing chords. Everything is lined with a dub reverb that resonate violent blows corroded keys. Music flows at a slow pace, aiming to muted finals.
"Vortexual (Component Two)" has a more extensive construction. And this time the recording starts with ambient electronics. Soon, however, it is decorated with rough blows rwanymi chords. At one point hit a dub bass and powerful bit native of techno. Hypnotic pulse entwine the streaks of cosmic synths, creating a spatial character of the composition. Eurythmics also be subject to modification - because at the end resound tribal conga tweaked to dub fashion. Speeding recording is losing its momentum only in the last minutes, turning once again to the dub-techno soothing ambient music.
"This is music to love it, to pray it, to heal it, it float in and drift away" - describes these two compositions by the author himself. And indeed - both versions of "Vortexual" fulfill all these functions through it, making this sound meditation on time and space has a salutary effect on the listener, soothing his psyche and bringing spiritual breath to the regular everyday life. So it does having a unique synthesis of the three chief elements Stephen Hitchela music - dub, techno and ambient music. -nowamuzyka magazine
written and produced by variant. additional engineering, instrumentation, tape treatments and sound design by a601-2. mastered & engineered by rod modell in echospace.
