- Ralf Schmidt, AKA Aera, is not to be confused with Area. It's doubtful you would, based on the two producer's most recent releases. Area's deep house outing for Ethereal Sound was dusty and unassuming. Aera's debut for Aleph, meanwhile, can't help but draw attention to itself. The two tracks here operate in the same slowed down BPM range, but they're bright and clean. Ready to please.
They don't give it up easy, though. "Flowers on Fire" may have a glint of Border Community's trance-y heyday about it, but its rhythm programming is too simple to truly inspire. (Many in the audience will go for "mesmerizing" instead. I can see where they're coming from.) "Elevator Pitch"'s clap helps its case enormously, giving some further color to the rainbow unfolding in the foreground. It bumps in a way that "Flowers" doesn't, and finally brings the harp to house music. (Overdue, surely?)
What's clear from Infinite Space is that Aera seems to be eager to try out some different things. Controlled experiments in what should be placed into a house music context. Infinite Space is an inconclusive finding, but further research is definitely welcome.
Tracklist A Flowers on Fire
B Elevator Pitch