It’s the news we’ve been dying to deliver for the last 6 months! This April Solarstone will once again redraw the dance music map with the release of the first chapter of his new compilation series. Compiled from the veritable arsenal of forthcoming Solaris Recordings material, ‘Electronic Architecture’s double CD will paint the definitive picture of Solarstone, the DJ.
Standing out in the overwhelming compilation field - really rising head and shoulders above the rest, in 2009 has required a herculean 6-month A&Ring mission. Matched by its super-immersive, multilevel mixing, that is exactly what Solarstone has achieved with ‘Electronic Architecture’.
Far from just a neat idiom, 'Electronic Architecture' is Rich's closely-held musical & spinning philosophy. A desire to conceive, design and then build a musical experience that, in 2009, aspires to the groundbreaking heights of ‘Northern Exposure', Global Underground' and (hushed tones please) 'Renaissance'… An album that engages the mind before blowing the brain, and all within the first listen!
Such is the expanse of debutante artists that the first look at ‘E.A.’s track listing you could be forgiven for a brain-freeze. Bear in mind, this is a wholehearted attempt to bring YOU NEW music! Bot Cyprian, David Horne, Filigrio, Jahawi, Jox, Cormac Murphy, Souls in Motion, & LTN (who won Trance.nu’s ‘Solarstone’s Next Big Thing’ Competition); these are the progressive, breaks and trance names of the future - acts that Richard has discovered after sifting through thousands of submitted ‘EA’ demos.
As your eyes adjust though, marginally more familiar names start to jump out... Katcha, Tarrentella, Saints + Sinners; underground classics, taken from the archives and rewired by remixers like Breakfast and Solarstone himself - solely for the purposes of the album. ‘E.A’ subscribes firmly to the journeyman compilation theory. Weaving with absolute fluidity between the subterranean layers of deep house & soft-tech, through breaks and progressive and then through onto the melodic plains of balearically-blooded trance from which Solarstone originally made his name.
Electronic ‘Art-itecture’: The Imagery Behind The Architecture.
Conceived as a cross-media release, both the ‘Electronic Architecture’ CD and tour elements are supported by stunning design visuals, which play an intrinsic part in the overall experience. Richard's love of sleeve artwork has always run hot through LPs like 'Exhibition', 'Destinations' & ‘RainStarsEternal’. On 'Electronic Architecture' he has taken that element up multiple levels with a look that will be almost as much 'Gallery' as it is 'Club'. ‘Electronic Architecture’ is Music & Art combined - the man himself goes on to explain:
"For me, the visual aspect of this project was crucial from the outset. To have such a rich new musical tapestry and not represent it with an equally beautiful visual package would have been a huge missed opportunity. This album represents exactly what I stand for as an artist, producer & DJ. The musical progression through progressive house, breaks, soft-tech and trance is the CD equivalent of a 3Hr Solarstone club set, and it’s committal to plastic has been long overdue. This is the music I love to listen to. It is inspirational in its inventiveness, musically ambitious and never formulaic or predictable. This is an album that I want your finger to pause upon whilst browsing dusty CD shelves in ten years time, for both its aesthetic and auditory qualities"
The Mighty ‘Electronic Architecture’ Competition!
As is fast becoming the norm, with each Solarstone project we like to commemorate the occasion with a competition that’s, well, just a little bit of a bar raiser! And Electronic Architecture is no exception.
Printed by The Art Group (the people who handle reproductions for the Tate Gallery), one lucky winner will receive a massive, beautifully-framed A2 print of the ‘Electronic Architecture’ artwork to hang on their wall. In addition they’ll get a signed, authenticated first copy off the presses of the album and an EA t-shirt to go along with it.
Now, what you need to do is to THINK music and THINK its accompanying art! You need to gather together your top 5 record sleeves of all time, as .jpgs, and send them to us at
competition@solarstone.co.uk.This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it Don’t forget to mark your entry ‘Electronic Architecture’ in the subject bar. We will be displaying in a special online gallery a selection of them so the world at large can see what YOU think makes a truly great cover. On April the 9th, and completely at random, we will pick a winner (this entirely subjective – your choices have nothing to do with winning!) and you’ll become the recipient of this fantastic, one-of-a-kind, toast-of-all-your-EDM-buddies prize! Jump on the internet and start making your selections. We’re looking forward to your entries!
‘Electronic Architecture’ – The Compilation Trailer.
‘Electronic Architecture’ – The Trailer.
Introducing you to the wide, sprawling world of 'Electronic Architecture'! Check out the promo movie now!
Playing at:
www.solartstone.co.uk and
YouTube - solarstonetube's Channel
‘Electronic Architecture’ – The Tour.
Over the coming months Rich will embark on a tour that, through the power of its combined elements will deliver a unique, cross-creative experience. Audiences will prepare to see stunningly beautiful graphical superstructures built on video screens above their heads. Art constructed and deconstructed before their eyes - all sound-tracked by the music of E.A. That music is to all the important intents and purposes exclusive to Solarstone. Across the aforementioned span of styles it will form an entirely unique in-club soundscape for the tour nights that Richard plays at. Something only a handful of DJs in the world today can claim to.
Electronic Architecture’s Tracklisting:
Disc 1
01 Tarrantella – ‘Jigsaw’ (Reconstruction)
02 Forerunners – ‘Dragonfly’ (Ilya Malyuev Remix Reconstruction)
03 Cormac Murphy – ‘Oversound’
04 Filigro – ‘Questinia’
05 Katcha – ‘Touched By God’ (Alucard Remix)
06 Under This – ‘Black & White’ (Reconstruction)
07 Solarstone & Orkidea – ‘Slowmotion’ (French Renaissance Mix)
08 Jahawi – ‘Kenya’
09 LTN – ‘Outer Limits’
10 Harley Soan – ‘Long Drive Home’
11 Edu – ‘Before They Came’ (Escape Mix)
12 Dave Horne – ‘What Lies Between’ (Retroid & Original Reconstruction)
13 Winterlight – ‘Mirror’ (Solarstone Subterranean Mix)
Disc 2:
01 Reconstructed Intro
02 Leo G – ‘Muttering Retreat’
03 Majera – ‘Believe’
04 Stan Void – ‘Transience’
05 Bot Cipryan – ‘Astral Breeze’
06 Saints & Sinners – ‘Peace’ (Breakfast Remix)’
07 Solar Energy – ‘Wanna Feel What You Feel’ (Instrumental)
08 Haylon – ‘Starfighter’ (Observer & Heatcliff Remix)
09 Jox – ‘Microbial’
10 Solarstone & Alucard – ‘Late Summer Fields’ (Forerunners Dub)
11 Gary Orvis – ‘Try To Find’
12 Souls In Motion – ‘Sensual Illusion’ (Reconstruction)
13 Reii - ‘Shocks’
Electronic Architecture IS:
45% Progressive
35% Trance
10% Soft-tech
5% Breaks
5% House
100% Solarstone
