Australian DJ, producer and Bonzai stalwart Audio Noir returns with his latest studio album Artificial Star. This will be the 2nd album from this guy in the space of just over one year, Almost Famous set the bar high and we have no doubt that this time around will be no exceptions. We spoke to Audio Noir to get a taste of what drove him during this album’s creation and he spoke about how he wanted to employ a subtle theme of space and philosophy. He simply wrote what he felt and consciously wanted to deliver an accessible album that would appeal across the board whilst maintaining his own artistic desires. He also pointed out that the bass heavy, rich sounding Jazz Noir was his favourite and most challenging track to produce alongside the surreal, prog tech driven Drk Mttr. We have no doubt that this album will resonate among many as it takes us on a deep, dark cosmic journey filled with peaks and troughs that keep the imagination sharp.

We kick off the album with The Dark Place, and the title really does do the track justice as we get drawn into a dark progressive tech cut. Nice big chunky kicks provide the intro alongside sharp hats that cut through the lower frequencies. Sinister sounding spoke vocals telling us about ‘the beat, the bass, the dark place’ ring out taking us to that dark place. Rising FX litter the sound bringing in a spacey vibe as a meandering bass lingers in the depths. Top notch stuff and the perfect opener.

Up next we are taken further into the cosmic abyss with Travel Tube which intros with a cool breakbeat arrangement that projects a trendy urban theme alongside the spaced out vibes coming off the vocals and FX. A probing bass carries a lot weight here and really gets you hooked on the sound and provides a beautiful contrast with the slicing vocal. Suddenly the track breaks with just a low frequency in play before bursting back into the main groove for the duration, superb stuff.

From London To Moscow intros with a nice chunky kick with a clipped top and a stuttering hat that picks up the tempo. Rising FX takes us through each stage and brings in new layers filled with tight drums that generate a solid rhythm. A straight up four by four groove ensues complete with a driving bass and mysterious vocal. Subtle melodic sequences linger in the background and add a little spice to the sound as it drives on. At the break we are left with that superb bass and those fading melodies as we descend into silence before the powerful kicks return and get us on the move once again. An excellent display of progressive house that will definitely gain favour among many.

Next up we have Drk Mttr with its superb solid groove and tight arrangement that spews out a surreal space-like vibe. On the low end a deep bass reverberates through the sound providing the perfect platform for the more ethereal sounds to develop. A cacophony of beautifully crafted FX line up to blast this track high into the atmosphere and take us all along for the ride. The groove remains solid here and will definitely give the darker sets a boost. On the break is where this track really shines as we are led into a total science fiction soundtrack complete with radio chatter that adds cool textures to the sound. A must have track for sure, this will not disappoint.

Like The Wind is up next and employs the talents of Russian vocalist Lena Grig who is a very much respected artist in her field having worked with many artists over the last number of years. She has seen releases on labels like Polaris, Impressed Records, UM Records and Silk Textures. The track intros with a punchy kick that gathers pace alongside sharp claps and a cool shuffling percussion arrangement. Sweeping pads come through and bring an almost euphoric vibe as the bass sits back with subtlety and only showing its power on the downbeat. The track moves along and hypnotises in its wake before heading to the break and the stunning vocal from Lena which really captivates the mind. Strong, solid, driving grooves for the prog heads here that will not disappoint.

Jazz Noir sets out with a beautifully complex drum arrangement complete with punchy kicks, snappy snares and cool open rim hats that leave behind a jazzy aftertaste. A monster bass comes through and takes over with its probing reach as haunting vocals capture the moment perfectly. The kicks transform into a full on 4×4 groove as the track heads to the break where the dark jazzy flavours really come through alongside that superb vocal. Softly smooth melodic phrases flow across the sound and contrast nicely with the darker elements. One for the late night floors here, a must have for sure.

Far From Home features stunning vocals from Jimmie Westwood that really gives the track a wonderful character. A smooth almost laidback groove is taken on as a cool kick-snare combi is formed while crispy hats deliver the pace. The meandering bassline goes from top to bottom with ease and settles the groovy nature of the track into its stride. Short melodic snapshots crop up and work well with the deep progressive house vibe. The vocals are the standout feature here as Jimmie’s voice courses through the sound with its unique flavour. Brilliant stuff you must have in your collection.

Modular Distortion takes us on a cool progressive journey that delivers a solid groove which will have floors moving for sure. Super tight drums provide the rhythmic flow of the track as the hypnotic bass grabs hold of your senses. The trip takes us higher with sweet melodic phrases that fleet across the sound beautifully. On the break we are dropped into a surreal atmospheric vibe that would be the perfect soundtrack while floating in space. As the track gets back into full on mode we are treated to a nicely balanced wall of noise that distorts the open mind before drifting back to a more serene sequence. A fantastic slice of prog you do not want to miss.

Paper Planes offers up a respite just after the midway point of the album. A myriad of sweet melodic sounds descend from above to the backdrop of a brilliantly constructed drum arrangement that gives off a nice downtempo feeling. Inside the maelstrom of sounds we are treated to some awesome vocals that send shivers down the spine. The perfect fodder for those late night wind down sessions.

Cloud Catcher intros with a mixture of well crafted percussions that form up into a cool rhythmic flowing vibe which are soon joined by a nice chunky kick to get the party started. Subtle sounds begin to fade through and a stark contrast takes shape between the low and high frequencies that really captivates. A wonderfully warm, lush bass takes command of the structure and leads the track into the depths of progressive house. The break throws up a fantastic twist as soft guitar plucks dish out a beautiful melodic sequence complete with distant voices that resonate magically through the section. A super tight construction that will definitely grab the attention of many jocks no doubt.

A Deeper Future gets us locked right into the groove from the off as a beautifully deep, lush bass washes over the sound to the backdrop of cool percussions. The bass is the big player here with hypnotizing prowess, you become one with its sound and allow yourself to open up. A subtle drum arrangement holds off and allows the bass to shine while on the break we get a cool trippy spoken vocal and distant sounding trumpet that shakes up the imagination. A definite must have track, one listen and you’ll be hooked for sure.

The penultimate track El Oceano Y La Luna opens up into a more upbeat vibe with a Balearic edge. A nicely paced track that delivers bright sounds and a solid grooving bass workout. The synth work is outstanding as it sways to the beat and lulls you into its grasp. That bassline plays a big part here as you’d imagine, it has a tough edge yet blends beautifully into the more softer side. Arps cascade through the sound and bring euphoric feeling as the filters open up while your hands reach for the sky. The track continues to throw up surprise after surprise as the tight drums dictate where the groove will take us next. The perfect end of summer cut that needs to be in your playlists.

We round off the album with Your Love featuring a superb vocal from award winning artist Lokka Vox. Lokka has had her fair share of success over the years having worked with many top artists and producers which resulted in her winning awards including National Winner of 2010 Songwriter of the year South African Tempo Awards among others. She has seen releases on labels such as Enhanced, Blackhole Recordings, Armada, Red Soho, Synergy, Melodika and Elliptical Sun to name a few. On Your Love her vocal really shines through and marries beautifully with the tough edged sound of the track. Right from the off we get locked into a solid groove complete with chunky kicks, crispy hats and a fantastic dirty bass that dominates throughout. In the background a mesmerizing arp skips along the sound while cool FX and sweeping synths come through. When the vocal kicks in the sound gets a boost with the subtlety and raspy nature of Lokka’s voice. A wonderfully intense and energetic ending to a fantastic album.

#audionoir #bonzaiprogressive