STEP053 – Parametric x Kodama – Scriptures EP
From: $8.00
Straylight Music Group - © Stepping Forward Records / Published by: We Are Legion ASCAP / Distributed by: Straylight Music Group
Parametric x Kodama are helping re-launch STEPPING FORWARD into the cycle at the start of 2025!
Acid_Lab side projects ‘Parametric’ and ‘Kodama’ are lesser known aliases of the insanely prolific producer that I’ve gotten to know over the course of past decade. Within the minds of music lovers found in SLMG’s sphere of influence he is probably most well known for the mountain of work created alongside myself to relaunch our ‘Tuff Love Dubs’ label project (and our resulting ‘Future jungle Tekno’ themed releases as Acid_Lab & A1-Voodoo) or his sharp as nails releases on our Force Recordings label as the artist AHMAD. And while I may be quite familiar with all of his other various aliases, it’s occurred to me with a little hunting around the internet that there is next to zero information on ‘Parametric’ and ‘Kodama’… so I decided to ask him about these visages for you:
” ‘Kodama’ is the Japanese name for a tree ghost or the soul of a tree. It also stands for the word echo and fits perfectly for the technoid and experimental sounds that I like to produce. The style of Kodama is in between Dubtechno, D&B, Footwork, Jungle, Downbeat and Ambient / Drone music. It got a deep approach and it helps me, to express my gentle feelings and thoughts. ‘Parametric’ refers to a parameter, which stands for a mathematical variable. That means, it is all about precision and a monotonous and minimal sound. There is always a heavy focus on Techno grooves combined with D&B / Jungle elements. Outside of that, it is a bit difficult to describe a “Parametric” tune other than they always represent a balance of form and function.”
Speaking of the songs on this release themselves, he recants: ” For ‘Kodama - UFO’ I was watching a lot of Sci-Fi movies at that time and tried to use such sounds for a track. It is like the continuation of my Scanner track and it also works on several levels. You can nod your head to it or you can listen to all the little details in there. On ‘Kodama - Basic Repetition’ this tune is my tribute to Basic Channel and it’s really meant to be listened to all the way through from the first till the last second. If your taking some time with it, you start to understand and feel the universal and endless grooves. The whole tune consists of two patterns and I faded all the sounds in or out (arrangement wise). I’d never done that before and it worked well for this song for you / Stepping Forward; no break, only floating energy.
On ‘Parametric - Scripture’ in the first version of this I’d made it was running at 165 bpm, but later on I decided to slow it down into the 130s to create a more 90s inspired Techno atmosphere but with deep pads / textures and broken beats that are the order of the day. It reminds me a bit on Moby or The Orb. ‘Kodama - Scanner’ was produced in only an 5 hour session, it happened naturally and I tried to mix tribal Techno vibes with Half-step rhythms. The sounds were meant to evoke the feeling that Aliens were trying to communicate with us in a different way. ‘Scanner’ works in a club and at home just the same.
And finally on my ‘Parametric - Iceland (Kodama Remix)’ song; In the near future I want to go on vacation with my family to Iceland. It’s a smooth and gentle tune, which glides through waves of harmony and this is how I envision that time away to be. No stress, only meditation and calmness.