Arovane

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Arovane
Origin Germany
Genre(s) Intelligent dance music, ambient, electronica
Years active 1998–present
Label(s) City Centre Offices
Associated acts Nedjev, Christian Kleine, Phoenem
Website arovane.de
Members
Uwe Zahn
Notable instrument(s)
Electronic

Arovane is the recording name of German electronic music artist Uwe Zahn.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Zahn was born in Germany in 1965. He first began experimenting with rudimentary audio equipment and keyboards when he was 15. Over the years he continued experimenting and developing his sound, even learning to play the clairinet at one point. In the late 80's he was dealing increasingly with synthesizers and turntablism and deconstruction of hip hop beats. In 1989 Zahn began creating music with a collective of electronic musicians in Munich. This collective, known as S.A.M., was deadicated to creating live, free, electronic improvisational music and operated in Germany.

In 1991 Zahn built his own studio in Berlin and his initial works could be compared to a Breakbeat influenced sound.

Throughout the 90's Zahn lived in Berlin and continued creating electronic music. After working for a radio station for a time he caught the attention of electronic music label Din. The late 90's saw his first 2 EP's Atol Scrap for Din and Tides for CCO which gained him a degree of notoriety and acclaim mainly in Germany and then throughout the world in the IDM, ambient, and electronic music scene. There was also a number of compilations and collaborations released during this time.

Since the productive early Arovane years of 1999 and 2000 there have been some compilations and collaboration with Phonem and Christian Kleine of Herrmann & Kleine and one additional LP release - Lilies - in 2004 as well. Although Arovane is somewhat well known among the "bedroom" techno and IDM communities, the music has not reached this level of success among mainstream pop culture.

Nedjev is a side project by Zahn.

[edit] The Arovane Sound

Arovane's sound is unique and can be charaterized as ethereal, intellectually melodic, organic, warm and ambient yet techically involved with structured, often heavy, Breakbeat and Hip Hop influenced beats. It is richly layered with synths and textured distortions and focuses more on generating a melancholy nostalgic feeling then 4-on-the-floor dance steps. The tempo's are in the midrange and Arovane has been labeled as IDM by many.

Although the melodic richness remains intact, the resulting sound from the Arovane & Phonem collaboration is perhaps more robotic and cold then what could be considered typical Arovane and harkens back to some facets of Icol Diston.

Arovane can possibly be compared to a blend bewtween the robotic glitch sound of early Autechre and the expansive open synth-laden fields of Boards of Canada. Zahn and his music are often referred to as being melodically advanced.

[edit] Tides LP

Tracks throughout Tides contain the gentle washing sounds of waves and tides and summer nights seamlessly comingling and modulating with arpeggieted-type synths and instruments backed with smooth distant organic and synthetic drums and basslines.

[edit] Discography

  • Atol Scrap (2000, Din)
  • Icol Diston
  • Tides (2000, City Centre Offices)
  • AER (Valid) (2001, Vertical Form)
  • Lilies (2004, City Centre Offices)

[edit] External links

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