"Setting Forth" is the first release from parisian label and crew, Exploration Music. The Exploration crew has been very active promoting parties, festivals and label showcases for the past 6 years and has made its mark on the blooming Paris electronic music scene inviting artists and labels such as Sigha, Shifted, AVN//OCS, Trevino, Lucy, Truncate, Skudge, dBridge, Exit Records, Goldie, Youngsta, Truss, Conforce, Dement3d Records, Moresounds, Vakula, Henning Baer or Akkord ... some of which for their very first time in France. The Exploration parties have always been about diversity of styles and genres but also about discovering new, upcoming artists and supporting the local scene. The crew is also involved in many local
collaborative projects such as Rinse France radio or 75021, always aiming to push niche electronic music to a wider audience. The first release on the imprint is a double vinyl album featuring four artists from the crew. It is an album in the sense that the music has been carefully selected into a seemless 8 tracks and 40 minute journey. It is not a randomly tracklisted compilation of tunes but more a statement of what the label will be : an imprint focused on providing strong vibes and emotions, transcending genres and bpms, in the tradition of such labels as Warp, Ninja Tune, Stones Throw, Brainfeeder, Hyperdub or Houndstooth ... From ambient to bass music, going through techno, dub or hip hop, no boundaries have been set and it will be up to the artists from the collective to define the sound of the label as time progresses. The album itself tells the story of the up and downs of setting up new projects, preparing new aventures. From the positive and uplifting bass music number "Envol" and instrumental hip hop "Horizon" to the more reflective ambient/dub techno tracks "Computerised Genesis" and "Area Memento", the first vinyl evokes the early hopes and dreams that arise with a new idea. The second disc is darker, hesitation and doubt start to take over in the "In Between" interlude and "The Tube" dubstep track. And finally doubt turns to despair in the intricate 170 bpm "Clockwork Escape" reminiscent of Photek's early drumwork and dark atmospheres. But this story has a happy ending which is
here provided by the heavy but positive instrumental hip hop/trap beat "Frantic", summarizing all the lessons learned, putting all doubts at rest, and confidently setting forth into the unknown.
As it is shown on the cover artwork, drawn by french artist Olivier Blanchin, and as it can be heard in the music, all is now set for
Exploration Music to finally become a label.
