Stephen Hitchell will release his debut album as Variant later this month.
The Chicago-based producer has quite a penchant for separating different strands of his work into multiple pseudonyms, with Intrusion for his dub-influenced techno, Soultek for his techier excursions, and now Variant for his more ambient work.
The Setting Sun is his first album under the latter moniker, and although it has been digitally released since the end of 2008, the CD package will feature a slightly tweaked tracklisting and running order.
Fans of his previous material will be well aware of Hitchell's obsession with vintage analog hardware and reel-to-reel delay techniques, and these tropes are in full force throughout the entirety of
The Setting Sun. More of a textural and beatless experience than the rest of his catalogue, the album gently ebbs and flows on a lush dubwise tip, with manipulated piano, guitar and organ samples appearing throughout.
Tracklist
01. As Time Stood Still
02. Enchanted
03. Upon a Dream
04. A Silent Storm
05. Someplace Else
06. Adrift
07. The Setting Sun
Echospace will release Variant's The Setting Sun
on August 18th, 2009.
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