High Contrast is back in a big way in 2012, with his new album ‘The Agony & The Ecstasy’ due to hit the streets in early spring. Check the lead singles here: The huge ‘The First Note Is Silent’, a collaboration with Tiësto and Underworld, and ‘The Agony & The Ecstasy’, featuring Selah Corbin.
‘The Agony & The Ecstasy’ featuring Selah Corbin:
‘Father, Can’t You See I’m Burning’:
Hot on the heels of his massive collaboration with Tiësto and Underworld, High Contrast brings us the eponymous single from his forthcoming and highly anticipated album “The Agony & The Ecstasy”, which is due out at the end of February on Hospital.
The album title was exclusively revealed by High Contrast for Annie mac Live on Radio One.
The only drum+bass artist we can think of who can get away with writing tunes about existential metaphysics and drawing on renaissance artwork for the cover imagery.
The title track is an organ-chiming, synth-soaring burst of opposing energies with uplifting strings, thumping drums and cooing vocals from upcoming Welsh star Selah Corbin.
“Father, Can’t You See I’m Burning?” is the accompanying deeper, darker six and a half minute venture on the flipside. From an eerie intro full of tense, cinematic SFX and haunted whisperings, it builds into a compelling melodic main part with crisp breaks, atmospheric sweeps and an immense midway breakdown. Watch for the switch in the second half.
‘The First Note Is Silent’ featuring Tiësto and Underworld:
‘Fearful Symmetry’:
Following his collaboration “Scribble” on Underworld’s album “Barking” last year, and his remix of Tiësto’s “Kaleidoscope” in 2009, the Cardiff based producer behind such contemporary classics as “Racing Green”, “If We Ever” and “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” is back to take up his rightful place as one of UK dance music’s elite.
“The First Note Is Silent” will be the first single from High Contrast new album, which is due out February 2012 on Hospital. The track is a superb demonstration of his ear for a good hook bringing in the talents of stadium trance maestro Tiësto and legendary UK electronic outfit Underworld.
Expect soaring, feel-good synths with the uplifting rush of Tiësto’s trademark trance, euphoric piano keys, pounding drums and yearning polished vocals from Karl Hyde in “The First Note Is Silent”, gelled together in with the expansive widescreen production for which High Contrast has become known.
On the flip, “Fearful Symmetry” sees High Contrast go solo for an equally impressive outing. Eerie soundscapes set the scene before a weighty, throbbing drone and hissing percussion kicks in, as the tune rolls hard into the drop with a surprisingly dark, tech-y edge. Fear not though, this is still High Contrast doing what he does best with a grinding riff, sparkling synths, buckets of dancefloor energy and bags of class.
