STM 039 - ASC

Secret Thirteen Mix 039 is a kaleidoscopic musical collage which smoothly connects different styles of music, ranging from ambient, experimental to techno and authentic electronica. The compilation includes emotionally powerful audio material from such musicians as 36, HTRK, Vatican Shadow, Anthony Rother, Harold Budd & Brian Eno, Ensemble Economique and others. This masterpiece uncovers the author’s intelligence, perfectionism, mobility and spirituality.

The author of the mix is James Clements (a.k.a ASC). Clements is a forward-thinking British electronic music producer currently residing in San Diego, United States. ASC is one of the most prolific and honored musicians in the drum and bass scene and beyond. Growing up in different areas of England, he analyzed Motown, techno and the sparkling UK hardcore scene, all of which made a big influence on his productions. While still in school, Clements was inspired by science fiction, synthesizers, Metroid, THX-1138, 808 State, FSOL, Autechre and many other pieces of art, which led him to start DJ’ing with a couple of friends on pirate radio stations. Nowadays, Clements is undoubtedly one of the most prolific and honored musicians in the drum and bass scene and beyond it. Officially his career began in the late 90s, after the release of his works on such legendary drum and bass record labels as LTJ Bukem’s Good Looking Records and Nu-Directions. In over a decade, he has released more than ten studio albums and sevenfold more EPs and singles on Nonplus Records Perc Trax, Samurai Red Seal, Exit Records and others. James used to curate his own label named Covert Operations Recordings which has published numerous vinyl & CD’s releases between 2000 and 2009. Since then Clements has focused on his new imprint titled Auxiliary, presenting progressive and flexible electronic music. Throughout the past couple of years, Clements has been exploring the more experimental and innovative side of music by using motives gathered from such styles as IDM, downtempo, ambient and abstract music. Clements has also proved his open-minded view to music and its roots while developing his remarkable Deep Space Mix series. Recently (In 2012) he has released two albums of differing aesthetics - “Out Of Sync”, “Decayed Society (with Sam KDC)”. The third album,“The Second Cycle”, was released under another pseudonym - Mindspan.

Secret Thirteen Mix 039 is carefully crafted, edited and polished musical selection which could serve as a solid composition for a mystery, drama film. This 90 minute creation is shaped using thirty four hypnotizing records. Gently incorporated field recordings, samples from lectures and dialogues enrich the measured background. By using thoughtfully selected volatile ambiance, Clements finds non-traditional ways to seamlessly merge different BPM's and styles of music. A large part of the mix consists of unreleased Imagination Network (a collaborative project between Clements and Auxiliary artists), ASC and Mindspan creations. The basis is made up of consistently developed sublime atmospheres, oscillating extensive melody arrangement and occasionally emerging profound rhythmics. The whole center line is saturated with modified shifting instrumentation that varies between cathedral and vacuum-type sound expression. Considerable attention is focused on the micro-activity which is constantly convulsing between lower and higher level tones, thus creating a lasting wholeness which discloses new musical accents every time. High-quality headphones are highly recommended to get the full listening pleasure and experience.

Secret Thirteen Mix 039 is like the breathtaking Claude Monet painting, “Water-Lilies, Setting Sun”, where a reverberating flaming firmament in the mysterious pond causes nostalgia, expands the imagination and disconnects from reality. Clements’ musical knowledge and the maturity of his outlook could be expressed with his modest, but meaningful words: "It's a reflection of where I am right now musically. I think it might be one of the best mixes I have done in a very long time". A remarkably picturesque soundtrack that needs to be analyzed, absorbed and spread throughout the cosmos.