Much has changed in the four years since Samuel van Dijk unveiled his debut album under the VC-118 alias, the Lunar Disko-released International Airlines. While Britain, in particular, basked in the feel-good glow of the London Olympics, the Dutch producer’s dark, paranoid and intoxicating blends of razor-sharp electro, pitch-black techno, dubbed-out soundscapes and ghostly IDM seemed out-of-step with the prevailing mood. Since then, the winds of change have blown through Europe, the Middle East and the United States, and van Dijk’s undeniably bittersweet music suddenly feels in step with our troubling times.
Samuel van Dijk’s nebulous dub techno, organic ambient and Detroit-inspired electro forms an eloquent whole writes Richard Brophy.
Samuel Van Dijk’s leading alias provides the UK label with titanic 14-track, 3xLP.
Samuel Van Dijk’s project will land on Delta Funktionen’s label in December with the B76 Over Land 12″.
Richard Brophy profiles current transmutations in the world of electro with The Exaltics, DJ Stingray, VC-118A, Ultradyne and more under the spotlight.
There are many facets to Samuel Van Dijk’s creative endeavours; he’s a multimedia artist, with an eclectic CV that includes stints as a photographer, graphic designer and, most notably, as a filmmaker. His short films – some for commercial projects, others for fellow musicians – are undeniably eccentric. Often unsettling, visually bleak and curiously drowsy, they feel like visual interpretations of the creeping darkness and otherworldly murkiness that often manifests itself in his music. Not all of his music projects share this aesthetic, but for the most part his records are dusty and atmospheric, with deep electronic grooves or beatless passages that slowly unfurl, as if produced in slow motion.
Richard Brophy speaks with Dave Clarke, Boris Bunnik, The Exaltics, Clatterbox and numerous other artists involved in the enduring artform of electro.
Irish label Lunar Disko Recordings will dip into the realm of artist albums for the first time with the debut long player from Dutch producer Samuel van Dijk under his VC-118A alias, entitled International Airlines.