variant: vortexual [element seven]

Variant is a solo project of Stephen Hitchell, who is one half of the massively influential Echospace project with DeepChord's Rod Modell. Their landmark 2007 album The Coldest Season on the celebrated Modern Love imprint was named album of the year in over 40 different magazines around the world and was listed as one of "The Best Albums Of The Decade" in Resident Advisor. The Detroit/Chicago duo also record under a variety of monikers (cv313, DeepChord presents Echospace, Intrusion, and Phase90), but Hitchell uses the Variant project to release his more long-form ambient dub and ambient techno recordings. Variant's albums invoke various celestial phenomena ranging from comets to stars to the aurora borealis. The cosmic preoccupation plays out in the music too, which ranges from warm analog space ambient infused with field recordings to more rhythmically active synthesizer loops and drones. In the final edition of the Vortexual series, the sound comes full circle. Exploring the impressions of the mind. Feeling empowered, you, the traveler, can come to a deep appreciation for all that is comforting and pure. Openness in this atmospheric world is as important for the listener as for the creator. All perceptions in this domain run through filters that are neither bias nor unbiased, but music simply inspired by natural rhythms and looping patterns of the heartfelt step selection of synthesis in this analog dream. Realm of thought opens the gates to multiple avenues of groove control in these nearly 60 minutes of celestial magic; spellbinding and enchanting, this is a soundtrack for dreams. Printed retro matte finished CD sleeve with chrome sticker (housed in resealable poly sleeve).