benjamin damage: heliosphere

Benjamin Damage presents his second album. Benjamin Damage's first single with Venom has already been a big underground club anthem in the UK. The track "Deeper" caught the attention of Modeselektor and became an instant classic in their DJ sets. Not long after, Benjamin had his first track released on a 50 Weapons split 10". With "Creeper," a collaboration with his old Swansea buddie Doc Daneeka, Benjamin delivered another dancefloor destroyer, released on 50 Weapons in early 2011. Only two years after his first track was released, Benjamin presented his first album They!Live, once again produced with Doc Daneeka. The pair used some Modeselektor recording off-time and produced the album in a period of six to eight weeks at Modeselektor's studio in Berlin. The trip to Berlin had a definitive influence on the sound of the album, successfully merging UK and Berlin styles. Everyone at 50 Weapons knew immediately that the album was something very special. The record was "album of the month" in De:Bug magazine, DJ Mag, The Independent, K Mag, and got brilliant reviews in many other magazines and online media around the globe. Soon after their temporary stay, both artists decided to move to Berlin. After two years of mainly collaborative work, the time had come for Benjamin to focus on some solo activities. He did a few remixes for Sizzar, Data Romance, and others, followed by a strong techno single named Swarm/Headache released in October 2012, once again on 50 Weapons. Heliosphere is a sonic sci-fi techno album reminiscent not just of early Plaid, Black Dog Productions, Boards Of Canada, or Luke Slater's 7th Plain project, but also dancefloor classics by the likes of Surgeon, Regis, Dave Clarke, and Jeff Mills, who all knew how to keep a crowd entertained. It brings to mind the flavor of 1994 without losing the sense that we're into 2013, as of now. Heliosphere is equally straight and beautiful, with ear-catching, murky numbers, and some merciless bangers and beautiful soundscapes ranging from melodic to dark, rough and sweet, all at once. Heliosphere is dance music with conviction.

Benjamin Damage "Heliosphere" (50WEAPONSCD/LP12) Out on Feb 22, 2013 by Modeselektor