Arriving 22nd September, the ten-track long player is the artist’s fifth album and his third on Dutch institution Delsin.
Following up VC-118A’s ‘Spiritual Machines’ album on Delsin, the ‘Waves Of Change’ LP continues to expand on his signature crooked machine rhythms, blending analog and digital processes to create nuanced tones and textures. The fluid synthesis and sound design which permeates tracks like ‘The Deep’, ‘Stream’, and ‘Replace Image’ might well be considered a sonic metaphor for the ever-shifting state of the universe, while the reliably crisp rhythmic structures applied to the likes of ‘Heat’, ‘Club’ and ’Elektri’ have a metronomic quality as steadfast as time itself.
It’s the extended immersion of standout track ‘Motherboard’ which offers the most complete summation of the album’s qualities, coursing through subtly vivid soundscapes guided by elegant, constantly probing drums. The snatches of voices which emerge through the mix are those of van Dijk’s parents, sampled from a discovered box of tapes from the mid-80s when they were both sound artists.
“‘Waves of Change’ is a timestamp of the development of my music tastes, directions, and abilities to make music. It’s music that tells a story, exploring downtempo rhythms and space between the notes, perfecting the groove. The album invites people to ask questions: what is change, and what does change do to us?” – VC-118A
Samuel van Dijk, known for projects like VC-118A and Multicast Dynamics, Mohlao and, together with Rasmus Hedlund, Dialog, is known for crafting immersive, atmospheric music blending dub, ambient, and experimental elements. As VC-118A, he balances the disciplines of machine-powered sequencing and hand-shaped sound, resulting in mesmerising records steeped in craft and loaded with intention. With ‘Waves Of Change,’ the Language of Colours label boss takes his established sound into downtempo and experimental realms, offering a clear-sighted focus on the idea of change, resonating with the accelerating states of flux in our lives.
VC-118A ‘Waves Of Change’ releases via Delsin on 22nd September 2023.
Listen to ‘Stream’ by VC-118A – http://ffm.to/vc118a-stream
The first single, ‘Stream’ is out now.
Tracklist:
01 Heat
02 The Deep
03 Stream
04 Glub
05 Motherboard
06 You
07 Replace Image
08 Echo Drop
09 Elektri
10 Ufonic