Huunter

....things are getting exciting at beatbeatblog, as we carry on receiving new beats from artists out there - signed and unsigned! So we urge you subscribers to spread the word and maintain the momentum, so that we can keep bringing you something a little out of the ordinary (as well as tunes from artists that we all know and love!)

....this brings us nicely onto an artist who did just this - 'Huunter'. After already releasing a 7 track classical influenced album back in 2008, Lloyd Bourne (the one member of Huunter) then drew electronic inspiration from the Lollapalooza Festival that he attended that same year....and the outcome is 'The Ultraviolet Catastrophe'.

....it's not your usual four to the floor affair - in fact, the 4 track album (each track being around the 10 minute mark!) requires patience, and a little attention upon it's first listen. If your looking for the obvious, then Huunter will not be for you, but if you're open minded and can appreciate different textures within jazz/classical influenced dance music, then we urge you to give this artist the time of day. At times complex, the album warrants a dark room, loud headphones, and 40 minutes of solitude to really get from it what Huunter wants you to experience.

....far from the usual dance music that we have brought you since beatbeatblog launched, we feel that if you enjoy 'The Entanglement' then it's well worth investing in the album, which was released in April 2010 on itunes! We love what Huunter is doing - we hope at least some of you can appreciate it too! - Beatbeatblog

I’m listening to a sample track from the album named above, the sample track is called “Antitelephone” and that’s all the facts as we know them. The opinion is running along the lines that the pr description of ‘experimental / electronica’ is as accurate as it is vague, which is fine, but it’s worth painting a picture that includes Cockney Rebel and Mary Shelley being waited on by a Chemical Brother or two. - Unpeeled

This spaced-out symphony of sounds bounces from electronic, to operatic, to low-key-late-night-dance-party-muse. It’s experimental and melodic, while pulsating with a range of rhythms. It contains strings, drums, and amorphous compositions that communicate arc, as well as intentionality. A sense of storytelling pervades amidst varying degrees of musical density. We listened to it twice in a row, and it flows really nicely. Whether it’s your get-ready soundtrack before you leave for the evening, or the last few tracks at the end of the night, The Ultraviolet Catastrophe by Huunter serves as an enjoyable audio backdrop for everything from a rooftop to rave. - I Paint My Mind

Huunter are from the USA, Brooklyn New York to be accurate and they have released a brand spnaking new album 'The Ultraviolet Catastrophe'. It is many things, modern classical meets electronic dance. It’s easy dance to, and with 4 electronic tracks it is also 40 minutes of pure electro fun. Lloyd Bourne (the one member of Huunter) sent me the album and having listened to it, I have to admit, it is a brilliant listen!

The most interesting track on the album is 'The Entanglement.' This is where Bourne creates a most harmoniously infectious, layered sound you can’t help but move to. It is also the closer to the album and the piano accompanied by the drums reminds me of late 90's dance music, the synths also make this track into my pick from the album. - It's All Indie

Huunter, artistic pseudonym of Lloyd Bourne, after the brilliant debut album, Shantih, a minimalist classical work, returned to his home studio to concentrate writing a new album and a new artistic direction.
Observing crowds of people respond so viscerally to four-on-the-floor beats of modern dance music, Huunter was inspired to create a similar effect using only classical instruments. After months composing and arranging the result is The Ultraviolet Catastrophe. Inspired by 90s dance music, he fuses classical music with dance beats in a very original way, he’s a young man but he knows how to use synths and drums, choosing refined sounds and creating a muffled atmosphere.
The album kicks off with The Antitelephone, it could be the title of an artistic installation, probably the guy’s a fan of Brian Eno. The track is introduced by a crescendo of strings culminating into a soft synth and bass drums making the dance groove grows and explodes gradually. After six minutes there’a break of piano solo accompanied with a violin deadening the tension, only for one minute, then the groove takes the upper hand again.
The eponymous second tune could be the soundtrack for a thriller movie, you know the typical Hitchcock-esque strings, immediately supported by the four-on-the-floor beats and a nervous piano melody. It’s a genial tune in my opinion, because melts the light dance music with the heavy tension of classical music, made of sudden breaks and crescendo that provide for the absence of lyrics.
The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle would deserve a mention only for the title, but actually is an amazing track. This time Huunter adds dark tenor choirs to a kind of music not so agonizing creating a good contrast.
The break this time is filled with worshipping church choirs culminating in a distorted tenor solo, simply brilliant.
The last track, The Entanglement is a purer compounding of classical and house, the kind of tune the people could dance in a sort of excited state of trance, it’s a very good way to close a short but intense album.
The Ultraviolet Catastrophe is a remarkable album, it experimentes new territories for dance music, professing it not as a B-genre, but as something that can attract snob people as well, being inspired by classical music. The result is a product that can be loved both by disco-goers and people who sit on their armchair listening to music from their very expensive hi-fi. - AAA Music

One would think that it would require decades of experience to craft an album such as this one. After all, creating a vintage-house/acid inspired album using only classical instruments would take skills of, let’s say, Brian Eno-esque proportions now wouldn’t it. Yes it would, unless you’re born with the skills of US producer Lloyd Bourne aka Huunter. He just turned 22 (!), but Huunter’s music is of such complexity that you would think this man has been living amongst synths and drum sequencers for many decades. The Ultraviolet Catastrophe is his second album and will soon see a European release after it hit the US market earlier this year. The album features four tracks only, but each track is over 9 minutes long and features more diversity than many other albums we’ve heard this year.

Now we don’t know what kind of otherworldly studio this kid is using, but he sure know how to use it. Describing each track fully would be a mission impossible. The entire album is riddled with drum kit rattles, violins, throbbing electronic basslines, keys, techno beats, vintage house grooves and a shitload of epic and thematic variations. Each of the four tracks features an amazing array of twists, build-ups, and combined instruments, guaranteeing an intense trip through the world of avant-garde electronics. The relatively basic Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle (even the track titles are arty) track is a masterpiece in which Huunter manages to create an intriguing house tune with just a few classical elements that together form a powerful combination.

Our verdict:
The Ultraviolet Catastrophe is an album like no other. If you ever wondered what house vs. classical music (forget about trance for a moment) would sound like, this album answers that question. The incredible diversity, leftfield approach, genius track composition and –although this is of much lesser importance- this kid’s age make this album an amazing tour de force. Ten thumbs up.

Rating: 8.8/10
Label: Huunter Records
Release date: September 27th, 2010 - Beats and Beyond