Austin downtempo artist CLAUDE9 debuts chilled 'Chords of Love' album + new video

FOR FANS OF: Enigma, Jean-Michel Jarre, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Boards of Canada, The Orb, Tangerine Dream, Air, Eno & Cluster, Massive Attack
INFLUENCED BY:  Massive Attack, Augustus Pablo, Leftfield, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Brian Eno, Jean-Michel Jarre, Cluster, Kruder & Dorfmeister, The Orb
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'Chords of Love' album  https://xelon.ffm.to/chordsoflove 
Bandcamp  https://newhumanmusic.bandcamp.com/album/chords-of-love-2
'Chords of Love' video  https://youtu.be/x8iTyS-XNos
'Clouds So Low'  https://xelon.ffm.to/cloudssolow
YouTube  https://youtu.be/u4dFIMq8KpM
Spotify   https://open.spotify.com/track/4uCWmUUmpjToXUmg3Ldgy2
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/artist/claude-9/281501988
Soundcloud  https://soundcloud.com/claude9/04-claude-9-clouds-so-low-3 
'Chords of Love' mini-live set  https://youtu.be/imkgQPYYj8A


"Like a slow-motion dream, sonic landscapes unfold on 'Chords of Love' - its tapestry woven from intricate analogue threads and an immersive, yet minimalistic architectural space. With a hypnotic quality to its rhythms, these melodies shimmer and fade, leaving behind a lingering sense of serene contemplation. An ideal soundtrack to your chilled evening, your own personal journey into inner space or moments of quiet reverie" ~ The Spill Magazine


Austin-based electronic artist Claude9 (a.k.a. Claude McCan) presents his debut album 'Chords of Love', released via indie imprint New Human Music, as well as a new chilled video for the title track, produced by Manny Dojo. This album offers a unique and largely relaxing sound, with light fractals of Enigma, Jean-Michel Jarre, Boards of Canada, Tangerine Dream, Air and Kruder & Dorfmeister.  Two tracks also feature the unmistakable talent of Jorja Chalmers (Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry, Italians Do It Better), whose saxophone brings intensity and emotional resonance.

Ahead of this release, Claude9 shared the singles 'Clouds So Low', a soulful track with chilled feel-good vibes, tastefully blends Eno-esque ambient music and downtempo trip-hop, and 'The Shadow', a slice of futuristic wonderment that showcases this relaxing nine-track record.

Weaving together ambient and downtempo electronica, 'Chords of Love' offers a seamless listening experience with six extended tracks and three shorter interlude pieces that flow effortlessly into one another, creating the feeling of one continuous work. This diverse sonic palette brings in everything from cicada field recordings to lush pads, drones, and a mix of real and synthesized vocals.

With the simple yet profound mantra of “Slow down, relax, and listen”, this is a gateway to a relaxed and healing journey. At the same time, it doesn’t shy away from moments of tension or layers of social commentary, adding depth to its soothing exterior.

“This album was inspired by a Brian Eno documentary that explored his collaborations with the German ambient artists Cluster. A specific sequence about two albums they worked on together caught my attention, so I bought one and was amazed by its sound—so distinct from Eno’s solo work. The biggest takeaway for me was the idea of giving myself complete freedom in terms of sound, arrangements, and genres, allowing the creative process to unfold without limits. Shortly after I started working on the album, the COVID lockdown hit, which gave me the rare luxury of time to fully immerse myself in experimentation,” explains Claude 9.

“My studio is something of a mad scientist’s playground, and I was able to make the most of that, diving deep into sounds and textures I hadn’t previously explored. I set out to create music that felt fresh and original—something not heard before—but still accessible and engaging to listen to. I think I achieved that balance. The lyrics are sparse, carrying themes of human unity that I wanted to convey. “Chords of Love” and “The Shadow” are both love songs, but their focus differs: the former is universal, while the latter is more personal. The Black Lives Matter movement protests happened the summer I was creating this album, inspiring the closing track “Enough is Enough,” a reflection on those events and my experience in Austin.”

Imbued with dreamy, rhythmic energy, the ‘Chords of Love’ album blends ambient and downtempo electronica, offering with six extended tracks and three shorter interlude pieces, creating the feeling of one continuous work that makes use of cicada field recordings, lush pads, drones, and a mix of real and synthesized vocals.

Claude McCan has been involved in the Austin music scene for several decades, both as a live performer and recording artist. As a keyboard player and singer, he has worked with Reggae acts Pressure, the Killer Bees, and Raggamassive, cutting his teeth to become a sought-after keyboard player. From there, he joined forces with hiphop-funk act Afrofreque, Supercreeps and Hail Marley.

Emerging in the late 90s as one of Austin's first electronic producers, Claude was involved in several well-received House music collaborations in the early 2000s. His background as a live musician brought authenticity to the dub and funk elements in his electronic compositions and, more recently, to his
collaboration with Noëlle Hampton (the Belle Sounds) and Ken Christensen (East Coast Boogiemen) in synth pop band XANIMAL.

As a producer at Claude9 Studios, Claude continues to produce and record internationally recognized music in the House and Downtempo genres, while still pushing limits and being an influential member of the ever changing Austin music community.

As of March 28, the 'Chords of Love' album is available from fine music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.  That same evening, Claude9 will hold his record release party at Stargazer Bar in Austin.

ALBUM TRACK LIST
1. Entrance   6:38
2. Chords of Love  7:07
3. Cicada Soul  2:47
4. Clouds so Low  5:08
5. Can You Hear Me  1:57
6. The Shadow  4:45
7. Down to the Underground  5:42
8. Echolalia  2:22
9. Enough is Enough  7:22

ALBUM CREDITS
Claude9 - Keyboards, real and synthesized vocals, melodica, harmonica
Jorja Chalmers - saxophone on tracks 1 and 9
Recorded at Claude9 Studios (Austin, TX)
Initial session for track 4 at ESH INSTITUTE, Lockhart Tx.
Production assistance by Alec ESH
Mixed and mastered by Charles “Chicky” Reeves at Sublime
Studios London, UK
Album cover design by Fumihito Sugawara / Fumanstudios
Released by New Human Music
Distributed by Xelon Distribution
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
Video production by Manny Dojo


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