Following last year‘s “Şeb-i Yelda” EP under the R.A.N. moniker, HÜMA UTKU delivers her debut full-length album under her own name „Gnosis“: a blend of abstract electronics and ritualistic throbbing beats with field recordings and ambience, available as LP and DL.
With “Şeb-i Yelda” (2018) HÜMA UTKU introduced her musical style to a broader audience - storytelling through elements of industrial, techno and abstract electronics, blending in field recordings and traditional instruments from the middle east. A sonic journey that now continues on „Gnosis“ that owns the signature sounds of the Istanbul born / Berlin based electronic artist and pushes them further. The Greek word „Gnosis“ meaning „knowledge reached through intuition and individual experience“ has been used throughout history by various schools of esotericism and thought, to signify gaining insight on workings of the universe. Coherently the album follows the hermit-like, truth-seeking traveller on a path through various times and geographies, through different forms of human experience. Merging field recordings that UTKU did in Greece, Egypt and Turkey with ambient soundscapes, abstract electronics and ritualistic throbbing beats, „Gnosis“ is an intense sonic travelogue where the storyline exceeds the borders any specific musical genre.
credits
released July 5, 2019
All tracks written and produced by Hüma Utku.
Tracks 2, 3 and 5 include samples of field recordings done by Hüma Utku.
Mastered by Rashad Becker at D&M, Berlin
Artwork & design by Cynthia-ël Hasbani
I thought for a long time to find the right words to describe this release, but I cannot without sounding too cheezy: It's overwhelming, a great concept on working with classical instruments in such a way. Without a doubt a role model for similar music! Goldsaftbube
Black sun in a white world. Techno, trip-hop, DIY D&B. Nice dark atmospherics too. The world will not be a nicer place for this album, and that's a good thing. Simon
Created to accompany a film about a bicycle trip from London to Edinburgh, “Heading North” is full of plaintive, whispery atmospherics. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 23, 2018
Official debut of French solo artist Richard Francés. Sci-fi influenced synth work, recalling pioneers like Tangerine Dream and Terry Riley. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 7, 2017