A quietly influential figure among electronic and experimental circles since the late '90s, Berlin-based sound artist Hanno Leichtmann has been developing a sprawling and idiosyncratic vision both as a creator and curator. With a keen sense for charting new territories, Leichtmann's work spawns a multitude of languages that go from delicate ambient excursions to techno explorations or abstract sceneries on numerous sound installations, releases on such esteemed labels like Entr'acte or The Tapeworm and collaborations with artists like Valerio Tricoli or Jan Jelinek. A reflection of his keen sense of discovery. Centered around the Villa Aurora Organ, an intriguing and mostly unknown instrument built in 1928/29 by the Artcraft Organ Company in Santa Monica, California, Outerlands presents a deeply personal approach to the instrument's particular properties, very much in line with Discrepant's ethos. Consisting of a pipe organ, a wall mounted marimba and a two octave tubular bells/chimes ensemble, remotely controllable by MIDI, the Villa Aurora Organ's rich palette of sounds is translated into 12 short tracks capable of conveying the mesmerizing spirits of minimalism, exotica and devotional music. Starting with the ecstatic sound of the pipe organ, "Lucero" sets up the hypnotic mood for Outerland's excursions through moments of spiraling repetition -- "Tramonto" -- blissful contemplation -- "Sunset" or "Notteargenta" -- or underlying tension -- "Coperto." "Espera" amps up the unease, with queasy organ tones lurking beneath marimba harmonic motifs that wouldn't sound out of place on some survival horror movie, while "Miramar" or "Revello" bring an uncanny sense of familiarity through its repetitive melodies. Drifting seamlessly through a variety of moods that somehow feel connected - the outerlands are within you, if you allow yourself to let go.
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