stefan goldmann: 17:50

De-tuning notes has been central to house and techno since the early days in Chicago. 17:50 by renowned Berlin producer/Macro Recordings head Stefan Goldmann is where this bittersweet sound turns systematic: the whole Western harmonic standard is thrown overboard and replaced by pitch systems that yield beautifully alien yet incredibly catchy melodies, bass lines and chords. It is probably the first new melodic concept to enter house music since the days of acid. In a field of music whose innovations seemed to have come to an end, pitch-bending opens up radically fresh possibilities. Tones never stand still but are bent and re-tuned for maximum expression. As a result, even the most simple melodies sound exotically new and intriguing. Warm synths, analog drum machines and loads of dirty distortion shape the album's sound. 17:50 is as much about pitch going crazy as about celebrating a rough, vivid hardware sound. Bend the pitch and the mind will follow.

Stefan Goldmann 17:50 - album preview