American experimental sound artist Specta Ciera (aka Devin Underwood) has released several albums on Distance Recordings, Project 168, Secret Station, Circles and Lines Recordings, Luxus-Arctica Records, Earth Mantra Netlabel and Audio Gourmet. For basic_sounds, Underwood delivers Scarlet Hill, an impeccable dub techno release full of subtle grooving organic beauty.
Opening track, “Day 1” combines field recordings of rain, textured rhythm structures and warm dubby percussion layers. “Day 2” is a soft organic track with trickling percussion sounds, distance echoes, warm cymbals and sophisticated rhythm arrangements. “Day 3” is a rolling dub techno track with pulsing baselines that propel the listener forward. Brilliant, polished, head-bopping bedroom track. “Day 4” is a deep floating dub techno work with light airy chords, combined with a chunky swagger, and swirling ambient details. “Day 5” is a haunting dub ambient track that takes it down a notch and incorporates reverberating vocals for the first time. “Day 6” is a mature grooving dub techno number with melodic organic nuances and shuffles. “Day 7” closes the release on a high with yet another uplifting dub composition incorporating harmonious bells and throbbing pulses. Both minimal and expansive, Scarlet Hill allows its tracks to float across and into each other, as one infinite and sublime dub release.
![[bsc_041] Specta Ciera - Scarlet Hill](/img/work/nomencl/m_7892.jpg "[bsc_041] Specta Ciera - Scarlet Hill")
