Mindset by Diffaith
In March 2020, after returning to Germany from another month-long stay in Crete, where he had continued his ongoing studies of Eastern Mediterranean music, Uli Eberhardt decided to take full advantage of his recently set up rural studio and create a new Diffaith album. The focus was on electronic production, while also integrating live instruments.
The result is a colourful journey through different atmospheres and directions, held together by the unique Diffaith production style. Complex electronica beats and textures, spacey synths, jazzy and impressionist piano lines, organic beats on the frame drum and other percussion, touches of acoustic stringed instruments, as well as various field recordings from different places are blended into the mix.
A common denominator is certainly dub: both in the wider sense of treating the studio as an instrument and placing familiar sounds into new contexts, as well as with the emphasis on deep driving basslines and the regular use of long delays, reverbs and unexpected bubbles.
The making of this album coincided with a global pandemic that is still a big challenge. Eberhardt shares the view that one of the things it has shown us is an even more urgent need to organise in ways that are focussed on cooperation, not competition. Music and other art forms can help on the way – part of that can also be simply opening to imagination & playfulness.
Tracklist
| 1. | Panoplish | 7:13 |
| 2. | Spring Dub | 5:13 |
| 3. | Mindset | 4:11 |
| 4. | Kondilaki | 3:25 |
| 5. | Ancient Days | 7:18 |
| 6. | Silkstream | 1:05 |
| 7. | Beltane Dub | 4:28 |
| 8. | Anjum | 5:54 |
| 9. | Thalamos | 4:46 |
| 10. | Hoodycrow | 3:15 |
Credits
Uli Eberhardt:
beats, samples, synths, digital & grand piano, digital rhodes, frame drum, toubeleki, tzouras, acoustic guitar, caxixi, pangi seeds, juju beans, dub bubbles, open windows
All tracks written, played, recorded & mixed by Uli Eberhardt from March to November 2020 in Borgholzhausen, Germany (with some sounds coming from different times & places)
Mastered by Ralf "Ralvieh" Happe at Masterblaster Audio, Frankfurt a. M.
Diffaith says thank you to:
Eva for her patience; Ralf (Masterblaster Audio) for the analogue crunch & for being so helpful; John (Seventeen Senses), Tom (Analogue Birds), Warren (Submantix) for their valuable input on structures & frequencies; Simone & Yann (Astrakan Project) for their empathy & encouragement; Gabriel (Allflaws) for always endorsing my music & his positivity; Alex for his ideas & the cake; Dorle for her nice feedback; Stefan for his detailed & uplifting comments; Lindsay (The Double A-Side), Quentin (Celtarabia), Klaus (Ek Minute Baba), David (Akahum) for their kind words; Thor (Cara Muru) and Drew for extra support; Steffen for being a very tolerant neighbour; Murat (Tamburi Mundi) for introducing me to the frame drum; Verena for reminding me that this is what I do, & you for checking out this music.
License
All rights reserved.Tags
For multi-instrumentalist/producer Uli Eberhardt aka Diffaith the musical journey began in early childhood, taking him from piano to kit & West African drums to electronics & back. He keeps expanding his musical horizons and his personal vision of sound - often danceable, always aiming to challenge listeners. "Part of me is a traveller. Borders are man-made. Creativity should be limitless."