{"product_id":"hank-the-big-melt","title":"H.A.N.K. - The Big Melt","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eElectronic music veterans Nick Höppner and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/theanalogvault.mom\/products\/alex-kassian-x-mad-professor-e2e4-a-reference-to-e2e4-by-manuel-gottsching\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eAlex Kassian\u003c\/a\u003e launched their collaborative project H.A.N.K. on Second Circle, debuting with an album entitled \u003cem\u003eThe Big Melt\u003c\/em\u003e. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBorn out of the unprecedented circumstances of the global pandemic, \u003cem\u003eThe Big Melt\u003c\/em\u003e represents a departure from the duo's typical club-oriented productions, instead exploring their shared passion for Krautrock, ambient, and guitar-driven music. The album showcases a more introspective and experimental side of both artists, blending elements of Fourth World, New Age, and leftfield electronic music. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHöppner and Kassian's creative partnership began in 2018 when Höppner released music from Kassian's project Opal Sunn on his label, \u003cem\u003eTouch From A Distance\u003c\/em\u003e. Their friendship quickly evolved into musical collaboration, initially focusing on dance music. However, as the pandemic unfolded, their studio sessions took an organic, freeform approach, embracing spontaneity and intuition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Big Melt \u003c\/em\u003efeatures contributions from a diverse array of guest musicians, adding depth and texture to the album with instruments including guitar, clarinet, and the tar, an ancient\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ePersian string instrument. Höppner's newly acquired drumming skills, developed during lockdown, also play a significant role in shaping the album's sound. The creation of \u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Big Melt \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003espans several years, with initial jam sessions evolving into carefully crafted compositions through remote collaboration. This extended gestation period has allowed the music to mature, resulting in what Höppner describes as his proudest release to date. The album stands as a testament to artistic resilience and creativity in the face of global challenges, offering listeners a rich, immersive journey into new sonic territories crafted by two of electronic music's most respected talents. — via Label\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/5168gPZm1FCxrQN4oZzqWL?utm_source=generator\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e↓\u003cbr\u003eLabel: Second Circle\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Vinyl, LP, Album\u003cbr\u003eReleased: 2024\u003cbr\u003eGenre: Electronic\u003cbr\u003eStyle: Ambient, Balearic, Downtempo, Experimental\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFile under: Downtempo\u003cbr\u003e⦿\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Second Circle","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44725269528734,"sku":"SC021","price":48.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0584\/5434\/3838\/files\/a3594441452_10.jpg?v=1735297330","url":"https:\/\/theanalogvault.mom\/products\/hank-the-big-melt","provider":"The Analog Vault","version":"1.0","type":"link"}