Hallock Hill

Deathprod, “Reference Frequencies #3,” Reference Frequencies (Rune Grammafon 2004)

I was turned on to Deathprod at Other Music… This recording is so meticulously done, so sonically refined. This track comes from the 4-CD box set containing Morals and Dogma, Treetop Drive, Imaginary Songs from Tristan Da Cunha and Reference Frequencies.

The Milk Factory provides a good intro to what is going on here… and who is doing this amazing stuff:

“‘It always seems to come back to a question of structure’. This line, taken from 6:15 on Reference Frequencies, seems to sum up the work of Helge Sten as Deathprod. As complex or abstract as his music can be, it usually starts with a sample, the basic structure for a track, something that he can work on, transform, alter in some way, help develop. Structure is, in some ways, the common point that links his work together throughout the years. Whatever the context, Sten appears to always follow the same process, and this boxset finally reveals how is work has evolved while retaining the same characteristics.

From his contribution to rock band Motorpshycho in the mid nineties, to his involvement with avant-garde jazz formation Supersilent via his production work for artists such as Arve Henriksen, Food or, more recently, Susanna & The Magical Orchestra, Sten has propagated his audio virus over multiple sonic territories and largely contributed to the expansion of the Norwegian experimental scene. Despite his ubiquitous presence, his solo work remains largely unheard.”

Read more at Rune Grammafon.