Pitch Black's breakthrough album finally pressed on vinyl. Ape to Angel took the momentum of the preceding albums to new levels, with the sound becoming fuller and the bass more driving. The duo tweaked the sounds of club culture around the dub heart of the album, blending sinuous bass lines, simmering rhythms and echoing acidic synths to electrifying effect. They also wrote their first fully vocal song, Elements Turn, with veteran singer Sandy Mill, and sampled Estonian satellite transmissions for Lost in Translation. Originally unleashed in New Zealand in October 2004 by Kog Transmissions, the album's infectious rhythms weaved their way round the world, finding fans from Copenhagen to Cape Town, and securing release in North America by the esteemed Waveform label, Europe by Dubmission and Japan by the cult Wakyo imprint. Critically acclaimed, with DJ Mag awarding it five stars, the release of Ape to Angel led to a 42 date tour round the world which included their North American debut. Tracks from the album were also picked up for use in CSI: Miami and HBO¹s True Blood, the latter featuring Freefall in a vampire orgy scene - perfect. To create the double-vinyl release, Angus McNaughton re-mastered the original audio files, and Hamish Macaulay adapted the source artwork by Shane Cotton and created a brand new collage for the centrefold using pictures taken at the time. There is also an additional track, Protect The Grain, which was originally only available on the limited edition Flex EP, recorded just before the Ape sessions began.
Release date:
April 21, 2023
Label:
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Recommended equipment and accessories
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Audioengine A2 Plus
Precision-engineered 2.75-inch woofers and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, featuring built-in DAC and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless integration.
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Phono Preamps - Top Picks
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Ortofon 2M Blue Premounted
Mounted on the SH-4 Black Headshell, this setup delivers exceptional clarity, dynamic range, and accurate sound reproduction.
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Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO
Featuring a one-piece carbon fiber tonearm, precision-tuned motor, and a heavy steel platter with TPE damping, it ensures superior stability and sound quality.
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Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
Features an elliptical stylus that accurately tracks the grooves of vinyl records, delivering a rich, detailed sound with an output voltage of 5.5 mV
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