hands upon black earth

Set on a reliable path from the first beats, the new Hands Upon Black Earth album, Translucent, evolves organically? swelling into a presence, ripe and provocative, and ebbing gracefully into submission. It carries emotion and summons release? seductive and soothing when so inclined, well scripted and perfectly unpredictable. In Translucent, h.u.b.e producer Bobby Cochran continues his path to uncharted sonic territories, and extends to accomplish what can only be the goal to enrapture?

On this follow-up to the groundbreaking self-titled debut album, Cochran is joined by vocalist and collaborator Irina Mikhailova, formerly of Medicine Drum and currently of Lumin, Kaya Project and many others, Irina is a well respected and established solo recording artist in her own right, and adds new sensuality and Eastern European flavor to the mix. Additional collaborations feature downtempo producer and cellist Rena Jones (Native State/Aleph Zero), singers and composers Artemis, Sharon Knight and Celeste Lear, among others.

Sometimes echoing the moody downtempo of Massive Attack meets Solar Fields, the ethereal lushness of Ulrich Schnauss meets Sigur Ros, and the sensual, hungry rhythms of Bassnectar meets Cheb I Sabbah? Translucent is an amalgamation of traditional electronica styles, infused with new and exciting energy that pushes the edges of contemporary music, and grounds itself in the universal medium of Bass, Beats, and Beauty.

These are songs that mix the ancient salt of tide pools with the gleam of mercury; natural ambiences tastefully introduced and skillfully blended, pulsing and undulating rhythms fused with soothing strings and electronic textures? awakening the body to movement while opening the mind to infinite possibilities? Translucent is a gateway to the uncharted territory within us all.