Arovane

Berlin's Uwe Zahn released his first tracks as the Arovane EP on the Din label, which also released the first of German dub minimalist Stefan Betke's work as Pole. Stylistically, Arovane's work hearkens back to the insular melodic electro of early Autechre, combining interesting, highly syncopated machine box rhythms with warm, delicate synth textures that evoke a gauzy, somewhat nostalgic mood contrasted by the sharpness of the rhythms. Indeed, while Autechre's Amber has become a touchpoint of sorts for a whole new generation of laptop do-it-yourselfers whose music rarely rises above tribute, Zahn's Arovane work is a legitimate extension of an aesthetic left largely unfinished, and is some of the most interesting and accomplished music of its kind. Fans of Ae, Funkstorung, Higher Intelligence Agency, and Phoenecia take note. After the Arovane EP, two additional EPs for Din (Icol Diston, AMX) preceded the release of Arovane's LP debut, Atol Scrap. Later that year, Tides appeared on City Centre Offices. After a collaborative release with Phonem and a compilation of 12" material, Zahn returned to City Centre Offices for 2004's Lilies. ~ Sean Cooper, Rovi