Claude9 – Chords of Love
Claude9 (a.k.a. Claude McCan), an Austin-based electronic musician, makes his debut with the album Chords of Love, an elegant and enigmatic trip through dreamy soundscapes, ambient grooves, and atmospheric electronica. With apparent allusions to 1990s electronic music pioneers like Tangerine Dream and Cluster, Claude9 creates an album that is both nostalgic, elegant in production and hypnotic in effect. The album begins with the wonderful “Entrance,” which shortly defines its mood. Drawing on Elton Dean’s ambient jazz saxophone and the rhythmic layers of electronica, the music runs between different worlds. It’s peaceful but rhythmic, with soft ethnic music that recalls the global-fusion vibes of ’90s chill-out compilations. The title track, “Chords of Love,” has a more structured groove. Depeche Mode’s influence can be sensed in the track’s melodic beauty and melancholic themes, but it’s combined with Cluster’s disorienting synthtextures, giving it a tense, mysterious atmosphere. Claude9 places an emphasis on groove and atmosphere above standard song forms across the album. His production is sophisticated and complex, with reverb and space acting as instruments in their own sense. Tracks like “Clouds So Low” stand out, with a chilled rhythm and ethereal synth pads characteristic of Enigma at their most spiritual. Chords of Love’s pulse distinguishes it from normal ambient or new age recordings. It certainly encourages rest and self-awareness but it also grooves. It’s music that you can get lost in, as well as music that moves you ahead.
Photo Credit: Claude9 photo by Mark Guerra
