Raw & Dark Techno: Velve Releases New Album ‘Analog’
Dark Berlin techno – progressive, minimalist and experimental, by VELVE – the Berlin singer, songwriter, composer and producer, who was celebrated by the press as first voice ever behind interactive AI in GAS (e.g. Apple’s SIRI, BMW navigation system etc.) and thus became the “most famous voice in German-speaking countries” overnight (SRF).
Avoiding any digital element, Velve develops a new signature sound on ANALOG with two analog synthesizers and her voice alone, creating hard 4/4 kicks and stylish oscillator emulations, which organically condense into complex percussive and ambient structures. At the latest since her signing with Wise Music, the artist has proven what she is capable of.
They praise the singer’s “warm and powerful voice“, her “poetic talent” and “a keen sense of cinematic compositions and an internationally respectable avant-garde sound“. (Musikwoche) And indeed – Velve’s unmistakable voice imparts a top-class finish to ANALOG’s fat sounds. The tempo is up, the performance rough and outrageous.
In terms of concept and content the album is provocative – with ANALOG Velve wants to make a statement against the imminent standardization in art and music through artificial intelligence. “What began as a hype is now becoming a threat to many people’s livelihoods, to freedom of expression and opinion, to our democracy.”
Velve plays shockingly beautifully with cyborg and gender effects on ANALOG, e.g. in LUCA and CHAMPAGNE, and sings about AI replacing us and hurling us into equanimity. The album deals with the resulting social alienation, and Velve’s soul-soothing voice sweeps through her songs like diamond dust.
With cleverly interspersed sentences in her native language, the artist immortalizes her scrutinizing Siri voice in SMARTPHONE, as well as her navigation voice familiar to millions of listeners in NAVIGATION.
The album cover features a coin with Velve’s likeness – as a symbol for the value of human creative achievement. The coin was designed by Emil Schult, who formerly also designed the legendary KRAFTWERK record covers.
A courageous and at the same time extremely club-friendly album!
