Arthur Deep is a much-respected figure in the world of EDM with a unique style and sound that has seen him evolve from a graduate in classical violin to immerse himself in an 'electronic parallel'. This has led to a passion for an eclectic mix of contemporary music from trance and progressive breaks to ambient, electronica and IDM.
With releases on Tilth and Morphosis dating back to 2007, Arthur has been a regular on the Proton Music roster since 2008 including a remix of Exoplanet's 'Paper In The Wind' earlier this year. Silk Digital, Unreleased Digital and Vapour have all played host to Arthur's productions and Proton Music is proud to welcome him back to the fold with his brand new EP, 'Pictures of Nothing'.
Not yet ready to commit to the responsibility of ownership for a full artist album, as the title suggests, 'Pictures of Nothing' represents the love of the paradoxical and contradictory for Arthur Deep, 'like Malevich's Black Square painting', an avant-garde step into a new art form.
Within 'Pictures of Nothing' seven tracks await using all the 'analog toys, drums machines and analog processing' at Arthur's disposal. Add to this the considerable sound-design skills, production techniques, a desire to discard traditional linear arrangement patterns and shun modern trends and the listener is faced with a fascinating collage of soundscapes, patterns and ambient washes full of emotion. The laid-back rhythms and grooves of 'The Dreamer's Diary' and 'Mutations and Behaviour' juxtapose against the pitch-melting analogue overtones of 'Protection' and 'Collages'. With a trademark deep bass sound on 'Dirty Enough' and melding pad drones and vocal treatments on 'These Barracks Look Nice', 'Pictures of Nothing' feels perfectly at home next to Boards of Canada, Autechre and Plaid.
This is music that defies classification but demands attention and emotional engagement.
AandR by Jay Epoch
Design by Royal Sapien
Mastered by Cid Inc.
Text by James Warren