Silent Season readies Wandering II compilation, records from Refracted and ASC

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  • The label has outlined plans for three upcoming releases.
  • Silent Season readies Wandering II compilation, records from Refracted and ASC image
  • British Columbia label Silent Season has sorted out its next three releases. Silent Season, launched by Jamie McCue in 2007, is something of a household name among fans of deep, dubby techno and ambient music. Already this year the label has released albums from Seraphim Rytm and Purl, an EP from Sonitus Eco and a compilation CD supporting Boulder's Communikey festival. Up next (and due out this week) is a three-disc collection of new material, Wandering II. Wandering II follows five years after the initial single-disc, 12-track Wandering album—the releases take their name from the Wandering tree, a big leaf maple that grows near McCue's home. This one is dedicated to Michael Mantra, the longtime ambient artist who passed away last year. (Silent Season shared his Mountain/Stream album as a free download.) It features 28 tracks, and includes a few contributors to the first compilation like Inanitas and Martin Schulte. Segue, Yuka and Sonitus Eco count as other artists who've released on Silent Season and are returning for the occasion. Also on hand are Brando Lupi, Michal Wolski and newer and lesser-known names like Archivist, Birds of Prey and tdel. Aside from the three-disc set, Wandering II will come on digital formats, and it's marked as the 20th release in the label catalog's original 'SS' series. Two limited-edition vinyl releases are also on the way, signalling a return to the label for each artist. Refracted, who appeared on Silent Season in 2013 with the EP Along A Ghostly Trail (and who launched his own imprint Mind Express earlier this year), has turned in his debut LP, Through The Spirit Realm, which will come on double-vinyl with a gatefold sleeve. Up next will be ASC. The wide-ranging producer and Auxiliary label boss has turned in a track for Wandering II, and previously issued three ambient CDs through Silent Season, including last year's Truth Be Told, and a digital mix. (He also put out an album on Samurai Red Seal just a few months ago.) This time, he's due for a more DJ-friendly EP, Beneath The Surface. Both his and Refracted's efforts are due to arrive sometime in September or October, and both will get a digital release as well. RA caught up with Silent Season head McCue to see what's going on with the label. Below that, you can try out a video for Archivist's track "Photosensitive" (and you can click here for a few streaming cuts on SoundCloud).
    It's been five years since the original Wandering compilation. How has the label changed (beyond expanding) since then? And how is the Wandering tree? Five years already, wow, time has a way of getting away on me. How has the label changed—well, I guess it's how has life changed? Silent Season is a reflection of my life and while many things in life have changed some things have remained the same. Silent Season continues on its path to seek out the deepest sounds from around the world. I'm feeling inspired every day to keep moving forward and trying new things, looking for new music. Happy to keep things small and simple, making good quality CDs and records, enjoying the process and the results. Sharing music with people around the world. The Wandering tree hasn't changed much. It’s still there when I need to take a break, growing slowly and enjoying her surroundings. It's a great place to listen to music or just contemplate life. I see the Wandering tree as the roots Silent Season has all over the world, all connected together through music. Tell us more about the process behind assembling this set, and your dedicating it to Michael Mantra. I knew after the first one, I enjoyed the process of curating and collecting tracks for a compilation. It's like a life-long DJ mix, choosing tracks that are reflective of a moment in life. Sometimes I hear a track and I know right away. Other times, it takes much longer. There were no set artists, I wanted to work with as many of those from the first compilation to make it a traditional thing, but some have moved on to other things and that's cool. I've met some wonderful and inspiring artists this year and that really motivates me. As a DJ and collector I aim to find tracks that fit a special sound for me. Sounds that border specific genres, not too techno, not too ambient, not too drone, just right! the sweet spot. As for lesser-known producers, I try to work with friends and people who are making good music. What started as one CD, then two, then three, goes to show how difficult it can be to narrow things down. It feels good to support the underground and dig deep. Michel Mantra made me think differently about how music can affect people, and about quality of life, and living simple and within your means. I've reflected on life and music since his passing and it felt right to dedicate this compilation in his name. You've had ASC on hand for three albums and a mix. This time he's turning in an EP on the label's vinyl series. What can we expect here? ASC can be the soundtrack to most days of my life. His albums are milestones for me personally and for the label, as they are incredibly touching sounds. For this EP, I wanted to do something different than ambient and go with some tracks that are more DJ-friendly. Deep subversive techno for the mind and the dance floor is what you can expect. James is such a great producer, he captures so many moods and emotions. I'd give him a big hug right now! Refracted is another returning artist. How did you connect with him initially and how long has this debut LP been in the works? I started stalking Alex [Refracted] in around 2012 when he was posting some super deep tracks and mixes to his SoundCloud page. I was captivated by his sound, it's such fresh-sounding, deep, hypnotic techno. I knew right away I wanted to work with him. Since then we've become friends. I had the very fortunate experience to meet Alex in person and play a Silent Season showcase with him and Segue in Colorado. I'd also give him a big hug right now! Lastly, what other releases might be on the horizon? Well, things have been kinda crazy the past few months with the upcoming vinyl releases, artwork, the compilation, time zones, pressing delays and all that. However, we recently had an album by Martin Nonstatic mastered by Stefan Betke which will be perfect vibes for Fall and Winter. There have been rumours of a new Segue album and a new ASC album. Time will tell. Be sure the deepest is yet to come. Thanks for listening!
    Tracklist Wandering II 01. A.P - Interdimensional 2.0 02. Aesthes - Amphibians 03. Alfredo Mazzilli - Continuando A Sognare 04. Archivist - Photosensitive 05. As If - Nærvær 06. ASC - Montauk 07. Birds of Prey - The Surface 08. Brando Lupi - Something Blue (Redub) 09. Brother Blue - Summoning UFOs 10. DT-90 - Arnica 11. Ethernet - Reminiscence 12. Hidden Element - Edge Off 13. Hydrangea - Ananké 14. Inanitas - Sorello 15. Inanitas - Tuesday Evening 16. Kanthor - Hegemony 17. Legiac - Jefre Tropod 18. Martin Schulte - Trip 19. Mechanist - Ley Lines 20. Michal Wolski - Sunyata 21. Mon0 - Forgotten Gods 22. Mr Zu - Retaw 23. Segue - Identity Dub 24. Slownoise - Wilderness Years 25. Sonitus Eco - Frost 26. Tdel - Deep Field 27. Warmth - Altitude 28. Yuka - Black Cloud Refracted - Through The Spirit Realm A1 Enter The Jungle A2 The Jungle Is Thick B1 Arrival B2 The Ritual Begins C1 Through The Spirit Realm C2 Plateau D Exit The Jungle ASC - Beneath The Surface A1 Immersion A2 Deep Freeze B1 Constant B2 Raging Seas Silent Season will release Wandering II this week. Through The Spirit Realm and Beneath The Surface will arrive in September or October.
RA