alter is the new album from belgium-based double bass player and electronic producer otto lindholm. divided into four colour-inspired, long-form movements, alter takes off from lindholms previous work a self-titled album released in 2015 on icarus records, and pushes the already abundant palette of sounds even further. this new work is more brooding and hypnotic. a deep, resonating bass is present - hinting at the likes of greek, chamber-doom merchants mohammad but perhaps with more attention placed upon textures and melody. the record moves at a funereal pace and opener fauve hits abyssal depths from the outset. a bowed melody is coaxed through the throbbing bass with dissonant harmonics drawing you in and holding you close. the ghostly beginnings of alyscamps create an overwhelmingly tense atmosphere where acoustic and electronic elements collide and evolve into a heaving, ceremonious drone. shafts of light emerge through the fog but the tone remains a haunted one. closer, heliotrope, strikes a more hopeful note. a lighter, more open feel emerges - bringing to mind early work of the rachels or perhaps deaf center.

drone pursues new resonant frequencies with itÆs twelfth release, a tonal, penetrating, and experimental album. vii was recorded by laying full takes of synthesisers and guitar feedback with repetitive melodies as a nod to the tradition of ragas. each song was written for a specific power centre in the body and to engage both active and passive effects of sustained and concentrated sound.

am elften september 2015 erlebte das publikum der konzertserie die erste live show des duos john gürtler und phillip sollmann unter einer autobahnbrücke in offenbach. präsentiert von dem international music institute darmstadt in zusammenarbeit mit dem institut für klangforschung offenbach und der hfmdk frankfurt, wurde man zeuge einer einzigartigen auralen konversation innerhalb dieses überwältigenden settings. ein jahr später fand sich ein fragment der aufnahme des brückenkonzerts auf der sky walking label compilation 41.36 und nun erscheint das erste album der beiden musiker. phillip sollmann und john gürtler treffen sich 2011 im gerade fertiggestellten studio komplex the meadow, in berlin wedding. seitdem herrscht ein reger austausch an ideen und ihre zusammenarbeit beginnt ganz pragmatisch mit einem experimental remix, einer akustischen version von john gürtler für sollmanns techno projekt efdemin, veröffentlicht anlässlich einer reihe von remixen auf dial records.