Friday, March 05, 2004

Nitrada- We don’t know why but we do it
Label 2.nd records
Release date: 23.02.04


With his soundtrack of subtle electronic glitches, strings, and guitar-driven melancholy, Christopher Stoll aka Nitrada has created a reclusive-sounding and introspective record. “We don’t know why but we do it” originated from Stoll’s basement studio in Hamburg, but to brighten up his self-imposed solitude Stoll drafted a series of collaborators from across the European continent. The result is Stolls’ basic outline augmented by fresh external ideas and mixed on an ancient analogue desk, adding warmth to the largely electronic compositions. “Old Love, New Idea” is reminiscent of Squarepusher’s Port Rhombus—frantic, syncopated breakbeats floating over a layer of sweeping, cinematic strings, creating a challenging but functional contrast. “Fading away” features the near-whispered vocals of collaborator Kaye Brewster over layers of subtle pops, glitches and anchored by a faint guitar line. The album concludes with the lovely “Start Today,” a melancholy guitar piece gradually intensifying with layers of strings, showing a sliver of restrained optimism to puncture the grey Hamburg skies.

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