The Mesozoic Era (CD)
Alaska

Often choosing to position himself as an outsider, Alaska’s success has never been limited to that of the UK- orientated drum and bass scene. He has collaborated under the Paradox name with some of greatest contemporary musicians the world has to offer, including Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, Shobha Gurtu, Toshinori Kondo and Bernie Worrell. His new album The Mesozic Era which is to be released on May 24th 2010, is the third in a trilogy of solo Alaska lp’s and a follow up to 2006’s successful Arctic Foundations. The stunning packaging boasts Triple Snow-White Vinyl and a Solid-Black Compact Disc, something that hasn’t been manufactured before in drum and bass. As a bonus, the CD includes more from the infamous Sample Me series – specially edited breakbeat samples for aspiring producers to loop and splice – and shows Alaska’s commitment to the grass roots of the scene, giving something back to the fans and those he’s inspired. When he’s not in the studio, Alaska is inevitably on tour and continues to entertain crowds with his live shows truly worldwide (having only just returned from Alaska shows in Australia). Armed only with his trusty Amiga, synths and a mic, he performs a truly live PA, reconstructing tracks from his back catalogue and editing beats on the fly. He has performed over 180 live PA’s covering Australia, USA, Asia, Europe and beyond, and continues to venture into unchartered territory to represent his sound. It’s been 4 years since the Arctic Foundations album and a decade has passed by for the fans of the Virtual Virtuosos LP so It’s about time Alaska delivered the third chapter to complete the ambient-jungle trilogy. Alaska has been living in sub-zero temperatures whilst programming the album, and the frostbite’s reflected in every avenue of the LP. The album features pure ambient-jungle, Sample Me drum patterns for producers to sample, downtempo drum and bass and the debut ambient collaboration of Alaska & Robert Manos plus famous trance siren Kirsty Hawkshaw returns for two numbers on the LP. Arctic Music has raised the bar to deliver unique formats for analogue and digital lovers alike, with stunning and beautiful Triple Snow-White Vinyl and Solid-Black Compact Disc packages. Both 12” vinyl and compact disc versions offer material exclusive to each format, and all solid-black disc versions feature extended mix’s taking the album a step further.

Release date: 24/05/2010
Format: CD
Genre: D&B
Catalogue number: AMLPCD01