Vortexual

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. This edition of the Vortexual series celebrates the journey that was once traveled alone into one that is uplifting. Dynamic analog and digital sounds inspired the vision for a new holographic world. Rays of light engulf the traveler, and what was once imagined as submission is now met with forwardness upon the hope for tranquility. Symphony of sounds and colors materialize brightly as sensations are heightened in lieu of warmth. The mind's horizon is one that wants to be shared and celebrated for this shape-shifting soundscape is the essence. Restraint is forgotten, and rebelliousness is forgiven, and emotions roam freely. The vortex traveled brightens, and you become the vibration wave. The illusion reveals the nature of this reality, and the awakening is relief that lives on. 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 resalable poly sleeve).