Betamorph Recordings presents:
BMR023: OVERCAST RADIO - SUBCONSCIOUS HEADSET
Available worldwide July 29th 2010
Overcast Radio - Atlantis Dub (Paske Ayiti)
Overcast Radio - Soul Tiger
Overcast Radio - Lifelight Dub
Overcast Radio - Secondhand Daylight
Overcast Radio - Honky Paradise
Overcast Radio - Solid State
Overcast Radio - Zuckersalz
Music Review by Simon Fogg [ http://simonfogg.wordpress.com/ ]
Overcast Radio puts a name to the dubstep personality of prolific sound design artist Chris Jones. A professional musician since age 16, Jones’ work as Staff Composer/Senior Producer at VideoHelper Production Music Library earned him credits on The Sopranos as well as with ABC, NBC, CBS/Viacom, Miramax, HBO, Adidas, Akklaim and TBS. He has also licensed music and sound design for over 40 movie trailers. As you might have guessed, the Subconscious Headset EP is a style that you wouldn’t necessarily expect from a heavy Betamorph release.
The name of the EP comes from an idea formed by observing the transmitted Hell of a modern Metropolis. As people speak clumsily through wireless cellular technology inside their ears, to passersby they appear to be talking to themselves. Suddenly, the gap between the well paid executive’s authoritative phone call and the vagrant’s delusional rant begins to blur, as both shout angrily to themselves against the backdrop of commuter traffic. If this communication technology progresses further, moving inside the body and mind, communication and social borders would turn to ambiguous static as Future Shock overwhelms perception. This is the futuristic vision that underscores this EP.
Musically, Subconscious Headset trades the familiar Betamorph alien invasion for a sunken maze of trip-hop beats and jazz. ‘Atlantis Dub’ is mysterious and elusive, while ‘Honky Paradise’ deals in pimp grooves and whiskey. ‘Lifelight Dub’ is nocturnally punctuated by sensuous vocals and becomes mesmerizing. ‘Secondhand Daylight’ has urban echoes, where other tracks like ‘Soul Tiger’ merge soft depraved notes with luxurious reverb. Just when you think the mood is calm, the bass rumbles just enough to remind you that things are ready to explode whenever Overcast Radio wants them to.
The Subconscious Headset EP creates worlds as often as it destroys them, and Jones’ range of experiences such as producing the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra in the Czech Republic to playing NYC’s Dub War party with Kode 9 colour these soundscapes and solidify him as one of the most unique and talented producers around. This might be why he’s been getting quite a lot of play on BBC Radio 1 with Mary Ann Hobbs. An eclectic deviation of the label’s usual sound yet perfectly congruent, this release is another new dimension to Betamorph.
From his Bio -
Chris Jones (1970-) is the son of Terry “Buffalo T.” Jones, a singer/songwriter who penned the country-western hit 1983’s “Red Neck And Over Thirty” (Billboard #71). After some success in Nashville he entered the college/public radio industry and built what would become the Long Island Radio Network. Chris started playing music professionally at age 16 with well-regarded jazz drummer Jim Chapin. Through Chapin he met Ray Williams, began studying classical contrabass and competed that year in All-State competitions receiving 6A’s in both jazz and classical. The following year, he studied drumming with Chapin as a trade-off for playing bass in his jazz groups and again competed All-State receiving a performance scholarship and 4A’s in jazz (kit) and classical (mallets).
Currently, he produces and DJ’s electronic dance music (dubstep/trip-hop/nu-jazz) under the name Overcast Radio. He’s active in the US/UK dubstep community releasing tracks on several labels, getting play on BBC Radio 1, and playing NYC’s Dub War party (with Kode 9) in support of mixing Vol.4 of their well-known podcast series.
As a musician, Chris plays bass within the New York free-jazz/improv community with Stereophile recording artists Attention Screen and has performed/worked with Daniel Carter, Don Fiorino, Mark Flynn, David Gould, Andy Haas, Michael Leonhart, Mary Lorson, Dafna Naphtali, Robert Reina, Blaise Siwula and others. Attention Screen plays regularly in NYC and Overcast Radio features some of these musicians as well.
For more information check out these links:
Overcast Radio
Betamorph Recordings
Distributed worldwide through Symphonic Distribution and available at over 300 online retailers such as:
BETAMORPH WEBSITE • BEATPORT • DIGITAL TUNES • JUNO • ADDICTECH
http://betamorphrecordings.com/
