Australian producer Jamie Stevens, a founding member of Infusion, has announced the release of his debut solo album, Beginner’s Guide to Floating, on Music To Die For.
ARIA award-winning Wollongong trio Infusion have often been referred to as Australia’s answer to Underworld, with Stevens and bandmates Manuel Sharrad and Frank Xavier performing at Glastonbury, Coachella, Roskilde and Creamfields, and releasing on labels such as Bedrock, Anjunadeep and Mango Alley.
Stevens is now stepping into the spotlight with his own long player, the release of which follows on from his recent set at Balance Croatia, as well as the singles Stay, With You and Transference.
“I’d always wanted to make a solo album separately to Infusion, but it had to mean something truly special to me; and until now, I was never quite settled on what direction to take,” he says of the project. “As a solo artist, I’m predominantly known for club ready singles and remixes. I was very conscious of wanting to change that and find themes and concepts that aligned with the sort of albums I grew up with and shaped me.
“Labels like 4AD and Mute, bands like My Bloody Valentine and Four Tet and composers like Max Richter and Cliff Martinez. Albums and the process of sitting and listening to them from start to finish with varied stories were a big part of my DNA and who I’ve become and embody what I love about music. Working with real instrumentation, strings and vocalists brought it all together.”
Tracks include the album’s opener, Erosa, which evokes the work of Vangelis and Nils Frahm; Stay, which previously featured on John Digweed’s Live in Stereo mix; Calling All the Gods, which features Skye Edwards of Morcheeba; and the dreamlike shoegaze electronica of Dust, featuring French for Rabbits.
As a press release for the album put it, Stevens ‘plays his role as psychopomp with gentleness, leading listeners almost imperceptibly over crags and meadows, between light and shadow. But the power and emotional range in this album is a striking revelation from someone so publicly self-effacing and unilaterally positive.’ Check it out here.
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