DIN Label

Artist: V/A
P: 2019
DIN 60
LTD 2000 Copies
iNDEX06 is the sixth DiN compilation album and includes two tracks each from the titles DiN51 - 59. The artists on show this time are Ian Boddy, Node, ARC, Bluetech, d’Voxx and collaborations between Parallel Worlds & Dave Bessell, Ian Boddy & Erik Wøllo and Markus Reuter & Ian Boddy. As with the previous five DiN samplers DiN label boss Ian Boddy has mixed and cross-faded the 18 tracks into a continuous ambient mix that not only showcases the albums featured on the release but presents an exciting and varied title in its own right. It also highlights the varied and intriguing music that the DiN label offers on its releases from deep analogue synth grooves through vibrantly melodic instrumentals to powerful, epic ambient atmospheres. An intoxicating mix of the old and new beautifully presented in a slimline cardboard wallet with an extra flap which just adds to the value and collectibility of this release. Furthermore this compilation falls in the same year that the DiN label is celebrating it’s 20th anniversary. This is no small feat for a niche independent label and DiN is finally getting some of the recognition it so justly deserves.

Artist: Ian Boddy
P: 2019 
DIN 59
LTD 1000
2018 ushered in a fresh adventure for Boddy with a new invitation to play at The Gatherings. His past performances have found their way on to releases such as Shrouded (his 2000 show) and React (DiN29) with Robert Rich. Several of his Star’s End live sets have also been released on DiNDDL as download only albums. However the trip in 2018 produced what is in Boddy’s opinion, his best pair of performances to date and so he has decided to release a double live album to showcase this trip. The first disc documents his Gatherings show on the evening of 20th October in the beautiful St. Mary’s Church in Philadelphia whereas the second disc is his live radio show on Star’s End performed at 2am on the Sunday morning immediately after his Gatherings show.

The music on The Gatherings disc features some tracks from his previous studio album As Above So Below (DiN51) as well as new material composed specifically for this concert. Boddy performed the show playing analogue keyboards and a modular set up borrowed over in the USA alongside Ableton Live laptop work. Muscular analogue sequenced grooves are overlaid with atmospheric beds of FX as well as grandiose sweeping chords. The music gradually building up to the climax of the track The Thaumaturge from his As Above So Below album for which the audience certainly show their appreciation.

The second disc from the Star’s End show is a more introspective set with atmospheric string interludes over deep ambient soundscapes. The music gradually crystallises into a delicate sequencer on Spire before the full Berlin School sequencer work out of Apostasy. Full of haunting tones the final track Remnants closes the set which works as a perfect companion disc to the earlier Gatherings concert.

Altair thus shows Boddy at the height of his powers playing two very different concerts within a few hours of each other in very different venues. Produced in a beautiful fold out 6 panel digipak this double CD album is a must for both Boddy fans as well as lovers of live electronic music.

Artist: Parallel Worlds + Dave Bessell
P: 2018
DIN 56
LTD 500 Copies
The names of both Parallel Worlds and Dave Bessell should be very familiar by now to followers of the DiN ambient electronica label. Bakis Sirros (aka Parallel Worlds) has two solo albums, Obsessive Surrealism (DiN26), Shade (DiN32) as well as collaborations with DiN label boss Ian Boddy in Exit Strategy (DiN37) and most recently World Adapter (DiN48) with Self Oscillate (Ingo Zobel). Bessell on the other hand has a single solo album Black Horses Of The Sun (DiN47) as well as his contributions to the two synth supergroup Node releases (Node 2 (DiN44) & Node Live (DiN55)). Of course the duo have already collaborated before on their 2012 album, “Morphogenic” (DiN41) and “Dystopia” sees these two musicians continue their sonic dialogue. Track titles such as “Cipher”, “Mutagen” and “Devoid” as well as the album title leaves one in no doubt that you are entering a dark and foreboding sound world. Indeed Bessell quotes the infamous novel “Neuromancer” by William Gibson as a major influence. Bakis Sirros as ever weaves his intricate modular rhythms that seem to squirm and writhe underneath vast slabs of analogue chords that rise and fall like cities. Indeed the album is very dynamic with complex, almost classical arrangements that constantly shift under ones feet. Amongst this Bessell introduces some fleeting guitar work as well as his adventurous analogue physical modelling sound design. Seeming to inhabit a netherworld between dark electronica and progressive synth these two musicians have once again created an album that just doesn’t sound like anyone else out there. Join them for a unique sonic adventure.

Artist: Node
P: 2018
LTD 2000
Release Date 18.05.2018
Synth supergroup Node don’t do things by halves so when they decided to perform an all to rare concert in London in 2015 they chose non other than the auspicious venue of the Royal College of Music. It’s almost certain that those hallowed halls have not seen such an assemblage of vintage and modular gear before, although indeed that could be said of anywhere else one can care to imagine.The four members of Node, maverick producer and sonic legend Flood, renowned producer and composer Ed Buller, classically trained Doctor of music Dave Bessell and Hollywood film composer Mel Wesson not only have between them a vast arsenal of synth gear to draw upon but they also know how to use it in a live performance. Indeed this is no mean task as without the safety net of a backing track all those myriad knobs, dials and switches have to be manually tuned and set up, a task that took the intrepid quartet plus their road crew several hours to complete.Why bother one may ask in this world of computers and plug ins? Well simply because they can! This is a performance, a unique event never to be repeated. It’s a show where the physical presence of all that ancient, creaking analogue equipment is as much part of the performance as the music itself. And of course there’s the sound these instruments make, a huge pulsating wall of analogue warmth that can rise from a delicate whisper to a mind numbing crescendo of noise at the whim of the performers. “Node Live” includes edits of four tracks from the concert as well as a bonus piece recorded at the groups rehearsal for the event. Released as a limited edition run of 2,000 copies in a beautiful fold out digipak featuring a stunning widescreen live group photo spread across the front and a photographic booklet enclosed this is a must for lovers of Berlin School inspired sequencer music.

Artist: Ian Boddy  & Erik Wollo
P: 2018
DIN 54
LTD 1000 Copies
“Meridian” is the third collaborative project between DiN label boss Ian Boddy & renowned Norwegian composer & guitarist Erik Wøllo. Their previous project was the duos debut release,“Frontiers” (DiN39).
Both Boddy & Wøllo are prolific composers and they bring their wealth of experience to bear on this sophisticated, cinematic release. Playing like a travelogue to an undiscovered land the album opens in suitably haunting fashion with “Uncharted” with it’s fog horn effects shrouded in mist. The next two tracks then emerge from this atmosphere and create what will be the template for this album, a pair of uptempo, melodic pieces interspersed with reflective, slow ambient interludes. The duo effortlessly mix the analogue synth & string textures of Boddy with the intricate interlocking patterns of Wøllo’s guitar, that at times sound like delicate sequencer patterns. The rhythmic tracks slowly build in intensity throughout the album via the charmingly folk inspired tones of “Golden Times” to the climax of “Rescue” with it’s thundering Berlin School inspired bass sequence. The album ends as it began in a cold swirling mist as the fog horn returns to close the album in a suitably mysterious manner. Once again Boddy & Wøllo show their mastery of their craft both as composers and musicians to produce a stunning album full of sonic imagery and beautiful harmonies.

Artist: Ian Boddy  & Markus Reuter
P: 2017
DIN 52
LTD 500 Copies
“Memento” (DiN52) is the fifth DiN CD collaboration between label boss Ian Boddy & renowned composer and touch guitarist Markus Reuter. They were there at the birth of DiN in 1999 with their inaugural release Distant Rituals (DiN2) and this latest work not only affectionately looks back to that album but forges ahead into new musical territory. The album opens with the powerful tour de force of “Gyroscope” with its ever evolving guitar arpeggios and thunderous percussion. The following track “Spindrift” has a mysterious harmonic feel highlighted by Reuter’s beautiful guitar playing & Boddy’s ambient production. “Linger” & “Stay” form a pair of soundscapes where Reuter’s guitar loop ambiences are intermingled with extraordinary analogue textures from Boddy’s Serge modular synthesiser. The former provides a breathing space within the album after the two opening tracks whereas the latter brings the CD to a gentle, drifting close. The title track hearkens back to the duos first collaborative album with it’s pulsing cut up treatment of a Reuter guitar loop soundscape and perhaps informs the listener as to the nature of this “Memento”. Although Boddy often keeps in the background in terms of lead solo work when working with Reuter the track “Deadlock” features an Ondes Martenot style synth line that soars above this dark emotionally laden piece. Once again Reuter & Boddy have proved to be a potent musical team with their balance of styles producing a complex, deep album. Effortlessly crossing genres between prog and ambient electronica it not only looks back to their roots but creates new sonic landscapes for the listener to explore.

Artist: Ian Boddy
P: 2016
DIN 51
LTD 250
Here the Vinyl version!
Ian Boddy, DiN label boss, has never been a musician to rest on his laurels. After the totally analogue, experimental “Tone Science” (DiN49) he now moves onto fresh sonic pastures with his new solo album “As Above So Below”. Boddy has always liked to play around with genres, mixing and matching styles to suit his current frame of mind. On “As Above So Below” he effortlessly combines ambient, classical & electronic music into a seamless, intoxicating sonic landscape. Boddy has been heavily involved in composing library music for many years that feature in TV, films and documentaries and he brings this filmic quality to bear on this suite of six tracks. The title track opens procedures with a great slab of slowly evolving orchestral chords that rise up out of a cold, ethereal atmosphere. Based on Prelude No.1 in C Major by J. S. Bach this awe inspiring opening piece sets the scene for what is to follow. Arpeggiating piano tones, deep Moog basses, ethereal string clusters & analogue sequencers all vie for attention in the following five tracks. The latter are at times light and playful with interlocking layers on tracks such as “Quantum Of Memory” and “The Thaumaturge” whereas an all together darker vibe is created on the deep bass pulses of the brooding track “Shrine”. The final track “One Day” finishes the album off in an emotional manner with rising string melodies above haunting felt piano arpeggios before finally disappearing back into the eerie atmosphere that opened the album. As usual this album will be released in the elegant slimline digipak CD package that followers of DiN will be familiar with. However there will also be a limited edition 180g vinyl album package as well which will include a download code. Both formats will feature a stunning, minimal image by photographic artist Wendy Carroll. Once again DiN have produced a quality release in highly collectable formats for all lovers of modern, ambient electronica.