ASC レコード& CD

Review: Covert operator ASC continues his astral travels for his current series of intergalactic breakbeat explorations with 'Star Cluster'. Following 'Isometric Projection' and 'Cause & Effect', this EP once again reaches to the heavens for its essence and rolls out with shimmering, emotional charm and more than its fair share of heavy drum punches. The dreamy vocal calls and slamming breaks of 'Solyaris' and the tightly coiled spring groove of 'Oblivion' are both major highs on this trip.

Review: Relentlessly prolific and inspired to the last, ASC continues to round out the sonic impression of his most recent label Spatial with this luxurious excursion into the deeper end of the d&b spectrum. The new age pads on 'Divine Intervention' might well trigger the odd Logical Progression memory, but there's a certain snappiness and focus to the breakbeat which feels entirely ASC's own. 'Variable State' probes at tension and release between outright ambience and airy breaks which contrast beautifully with the fulsome, rounded subs in a manner which should satisfy Photek fans. 'Azure' offers a more sensitive, melancholic kind of roller, while 'Loose Ends' goes in hard on the drum edits and epic atmospheric blooms. No one does it like ASC.

Review: Space jungle extraordinaire ASC is as prolific as they come, and this week he's back again with 'Sphere Of Influence', a synth-heavy present-day take on the dreamy origins of his chosen sound. Beginning with 'The Arcane', we're most struck with ASC's emphasis on atmospherics and synthwork - they come first compared to his relatively functional breakscience, which are like godlike apparatuses guiding us through heavily nuanced, heavenly vistas. That functionality goes out of the window with 'Threeform', though - an unusually sound-designed number which introduces suddenly-huge variation in the breaks, in what is said to be ¾ time.

Review: Many of ASC's albums never made it to wax first time round, something he's now addressing via a swathe of vinyl additions of classic back catalogue releases. The latest to get this treatment is 2014's 'Truth Be Told', a set that's amongst the San Diego-based producer's most inspired ambient works (and there have been many over the years, as well as plenty of killer experimental d&b and spaced-out techno). While it naturally makes use of processed field recordings and cutting-edge sound design techniques, 'Truth Be Told' is a very nostalgic ambient album. Those with a deep knowledge of the 1990s works of Pete Namlook will feel right at home, while the slowly pulsing chords, immersive pads and gently unfurling lead lines reminded us of Sun Electric's often overlooked classic '30.7.94 Live'.

Review: James Clements continues his explorations into the depths of the grey zone as ASC with The Farthest Reaches double pack on Auxiliary. Samurai Music's Presha has excitedly called these four tracks "a definitive musical statement from one of the most important electronic musicians of our era," and who are we to argue with him? Making full usage of the format and available space, this is ASC in exploratory mode across a quartet of deep ten minute plus productions that have it all; sound design, atmosphere, groove, bass weight. To simply call these epic is selling The Farthest Reaches short!

Review: Instra:mental's Nonplus imprint are set to unleash US based producer ASC's debut album, Nothing Is Certain next month but first deliver a three track taster of this highly anticipated LP. "Phobos" sets industrial noises and sparse, dramatic tones as its backdrop but entwines electronic grooves and micro samples over the top to create his unusual but wholly captivating sound. "Oort Cloud" drops out into some cosmic, downtempo atmospheres of weightless space before "Matter of Time" explores wind-like sounds and melodies, deep oceans of bass and his intriguing use of Oriental sounding percussion. Once listen to this will have you holding your breath for July's LP.

Review: Another Interstellar Transmission incoming! ASC and Aural Imbalance reunite once again on Spatial with this sublime four track atmospheric jungle adventure - 'The Other Side'. Four cuts deep, across the release the two old friends take us on a gently dynamic tip from deep ambient d&b ('Continuum') to full-on militant drumfunk ('Distant Orbit') by way of dreamy jazzy breakbeat ('Cold Front') and cosmic, hypnotic steppery ('Depth Perception') The result speak for themselves.

Review: Past Inside the Present's 'Pulse' series is an investigation into ambient tech and beat-driven ambient sounds. Who better for the job on this second edition than master craftsmen ASC and Joachim Spieth? ASC opens up with 'Tidal Disruption Event', an understated, underwater rhythm with jittery percussive patterns and bright shards of melodic light piercing through the mix as more coarse soundwaves break over the top. Spieth's 'Subtle' is just as artful and delicate a mix of persuasive rhythm and melodic beauty. A classy Nitechord remix closes out this fascinating EP.