NEVEL - SUBCONSCIOUS DUBS (Artificial Night) (self release)

NEVEL is a Belgian DJ/producer/live act with roots in the Belgian and international new wave underground scene (NEBULA-H, PROPULSION, EX.ES). Signed to Woole-Discs with his first album The Hageland, this album is released by NEVEL’s own label ARTIFICIAL NIGHT. Recently NEVEL’s single ‘Glint’ got signed by the legendary label TRAUM SCHALLPLATTEN.

01. Versatile feat. DoctorD
Get ready to groove with "Versatile," the hypnotic opener of NEVEL’s latest album. Crafted in collaboration with DOCTORD, a producer friend living in the same neighbourhood, this unconventional dub track breaks the mould and beckons you to dance. With pulsating beats and trippy vibes, "Versatile" is a sonic adventure rooted in the experimental ethos of dub.

02. We Are The Rhythm feat. Reverend Basstorius
With its groovy flow and mesmerising beats, "We Are The Rhythm" is a standout gem that will linger in your mind long after the music stops. Featuring the masterful bassline of REVEREND BASSTORIUS this track is a testament to musical collaboration at its finest. From the euphoric highs to the psychedelic depths, this track takes you on a journey unlike any other. Every beat is a celebration of music's power to move the soul.

03. A Special Kind Of Space feat. DoctorD
Embark on a sonic odyssey with "A Special Kind Of Space," the second collaboration with the visionary DOCTOR D. This organic electronica masterpiece envelops you in a warm, immersive embrace, achieved through the meticulous use of vintage analogue effects like tape emulations, retro delays, and spring reverbs. "A Special Kind Of Space" is more than just music – it's a transcendental experience, inviting you to explore the depths of a special, ethereal dimension.

04. Sun Voices feat. Dirk Da Davo
Dive into the psychedelic realm of "Sun Voices," a collaboration between NEVEL and the legendary DIRK DA DAVO, known for his groundbreaking work with THE NEON JUDGEMENT and NEON ELECTRONICS. Driven by NEVEL's long standing admiration for DIRK's music, this track is the culmination of an intense exchange of ideas, resulting in a mind-bending journey through trippy landscapes and hypnotic vocals. Prepare to be mesmerised by the etherial guitars and captivating vocals of DIRK DA DAVO as you immerse yourself in the sonic tapestry of "Sun Voices."

05. Time And Space feat. Bysenses
Delve into a sonic landscape where vintage sound treatments reminiscent of electronic pioneers like TANGERINE DREAM intertwine seamlessly with modern elements, a captivating blend of ambient and Berlin school influences. In this 7-minute odyssey, experience the synergy of soundscapes crafted by BYSENSES and the intricate basslines, beats, and hallucinogenic samples expertly programmed by NEVEL.

06. Girls On Acid feat. DoctorD
NEVEL has never hidden his admiration for THE ORB. ‘I never wanted to copy THE ORB, but I create what I create, ... ‘ And definitely one can’t deny there are some ORB-ish influences: A dubby bassline, propulsive rhythms, female choruses, trippy samples... An ode to the godfathers of ambient dub electronics...

07. Chillax feat. Jeroen Ollevier
FAT BOY SLIM, SMOKE CITY, KRUDER AND DORFMEISTER, BENTLEY RHYTHM ACE, THE ORB, ... Undoubtedly, you can hear echoes of this past in CHILLAX. On the other hand, this track sounds contemporary, with a catchy, maybe even sexy saxophone melody in the break. Guitars and even a piano melody reminiscent of JOHN LENNON's work are elements that NEVEL has not used in previous work. And we haven't even mentioned the virtuoso contribution of JEROEN OLLEVIER from ALPACAS COLLECTIVE from LEUVEN. With his warm organ solos, he completes the track. A track, ideal for chilling at a festival between performances, or just lying in the hammock in your own garden.

08. It Doesn’t Make Any Sense feat. Arnaud Le Gamin
Experience the multifaceted talent of ARNAUD LE GAMIN in "It Doesn’t Make Any Sense," a captivating fusion of ambient textures and progressive beats. Diverging from his signature house and techno styles, ARNAUD LE GAMIN brings a fresh perspective to the table with an ambient-like approach in this collaboration. The deliberate pacing of the track creates a cool, danceable-like effect, drawing listeners into its hypnotic cadence.

09. Void feat. Ahráyeph
Prepare for a transcendent experience with "Ahráyeph," the brainchild of former ANCIENT RITES guitar player, and a testament to the power of collaboration. Drawing inspiration from THE ORB's acclaimed album 'Metallic Spheres,' Bart and Ahráyeph seamlessly blend ethereal ambient sounds with mesmerising guitar melodies. Just as DAVID GILMOUR’s contribution elevated the original album,Ahráyeph's masterful guitar playing adds a new dimension to the track.

A WORD FROM THE FEATURED ARTISTS

DoctorD
When NEVEL comes with an idea of a track, he is open to sometimes rather wild ideas. In the case of Girls on Acid, he came with a rather uptempo, ska-ish foundation, to which I added the half-tempo dub bassline and some dubby samples. Oh and some dub stabs as well. As I'm a big fan of mixing various styles I added some East-European (or is it Asian) string instrument at some point. At that point, NEVEL took back the various ideas in his good ol' NEVEL mixer/blender, and I'm very happy with the mix he made. Very proud of this collab, I must say. A Special Kind Of Space: I helped NEVEL nailing a special kind of space delay on some of the sounds. As I was composing some more classical pieces at that time, I also added a flute line in the arrangement, and I helped NEVEL with arranging the various components. As always, he did a terrific job on mixing everything together into a great sounding track. https://doctord1.bandcamp.com/

Reverend Basstorius
Sometime in April 2023, I saw a video of another Belgian musician who is also a big fan of "THE ORB" In it, he mentioned that he could definitely see collaborations happening. Inspired, I sent him a message, and it didn’t take long to get a reply. I was asked for my email address, and promptly, a demo was sent for me to sink my teeth into. A few days later, Bart's demo arrived in the mail. After listening to it, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. The track itself catapulted me back to the days of The Orb's "Perpetual Dawn," "Blue Room," and "Towers of Dub." So, I set my Jazz Bass with the neck pickup all the way up, the bridge pickup and tone all the way off, and plunged into Dub State to lay down a deep bassline. A few stabs here and one little pad were all it took because the track was magnificent and needed nothing more. What a great musician to work with, and what an amazing bloke when you catch him live. Truly a musician with a big heart for the scene. I love this so much. https://doorchaserrecords.bandcamp.com/

Dirk Da Davo
Sometimes I am asked to contribute to a recording. This time, it was Bart Van Meulebroeck with his electronic project “NEVEL.” Bart requested a collaboration, and I invited him to send over the track he had in mind. I was pleasantly surprised by the sound he created, so the process went quite smoothly. I listened to the recording a few times and started to jam on it with my guitar. After a few takes, I got into the groove, recorded my part, and sent the file back to Bart. He liked it a lot. Then, we had the idea to add some vocals, so I wrote lyrics based on a title he suggested. And thus, “SUNVOICES” was born—a nice track with a great groove and excellent production!
https://dirkdadavo.bandcamp.com/

Bysenses
One beautiful evening, I was listening to Bandcamp and came across NEVEL's single, "Babbling Brook." I was immediately captivated. After downloading it, NEVEL also discovered my album "People" on Bandcamp and liked it. When Bart asked me to create a song from scratch in my own way, I accomplished it quickly. Bart received the song and added his own emphasis to it. It is an art to beautifully edit someone else's song into your own interpretation. I can only be very happy with the request from a man who puts his soul into his music.
Dirk/Bysenses.
https://bysenses.bandcamp.com/

Jeroen Ollevier
From an early age, I would replay the music I heard on the radio. At the age of 9, I got my first keyboard. Later on, I started playing in all kinds of bands. I’ve played rock music, as well as afrofunk and ethio-jazz, including Hammond organ sounds. NEVEL, a colleague of mine, asked me to collaborate, which I happily accepted. We recorded music in his home studio, and the result is a track called “Chillax.” I hope you enjoy it!
https://alpacascollective.bandcamp.com/

Arnaud Le Gamin

Collaborating with NEVEL on our recent ambient and cinematic track has been a remarkable experience. Known for his distinctive style, NEVEL brought a fresh perspective to my dark, evocative composition. I was thrilled with how he enhanced the layers, adding ethereal sounds and subtle nuances that deepened the track's atmospheric and haunting quality. His ability to blend his unique twist while respecting my original vision resulted in a mesmerising and immersive soundscape. The track evolved into something profoundly eerie yet beautifully complex, thanks to Nevel's contributions. This collaboration has truly enriched the music, and I am excited about the dark, cinematic world we have created together.
https://soundcloud.com/arnaudlegamin

Ahráyeph
I was introduced to Bart about two years ago - give or take a few weeks or months - by my friend, brewer and bar owner Steven, who introduced us to each other when we both had the brilliant idea to have a drink at Steven’s outside summer bar. Steven had already worked with Bart, who had composed a track to coincide with the launch of one of Steven’s autumnal craft beers the year before, which he let me hear not too long before I met Bart, and which I liked a lot. We hit if off instantly, talking about music for a good portion of the afternoon, the end of it being a loose agreement to collaborate at some point in the future. Cue to a year and a half - and several hectoliters of Steven’s beer and home brewed ginger lemonade - later, when Bart finally asked me to play guitar on a track of his, which became ‘Void’. Knowing my love for all things PINK FLOYD, he specifically requested I do a ‘GILMOUR-esque’ guitar part, which, of course, is right in my wheel house. Any chance I’m allowed to wail on my Les Paul in good ol’ Dave fashion, I’ll jump at, so I just set about it and fifteen minutes later emerged out of the Nebulous ambient universe with something I knew Bart would like (he did, obviously), which I liked and which was completely improvised, no overdubs. The track he had sent me made it really easy for me to get into the right headspace. I hope you’ll love to get lost in it time and again as much as I did when I recorded my part. My listening advice? Best consumed in the dark, with headphones on…
https://ahrayeph.bandcamp.com/

A WORD FROM NEVEL
I feel immensely honoured having collaborated with all the artists who contributed to this album. First and foremost, I want to thank DOCTORD. He is a fantastic producer/mixer/arranger/musician/who inspires me and from whom I have learned a great deal. DOCTORD lives a few streets away and has become a true friend over time. I hope we can continue to work together. We certainly have new projects waiting for us. REVEREND BASSTORIUS is another wonderful person. I got to know him through music, and we have since met in person several times. What an amiable man, as well as a brilliant musician. Like previous collaborations, working with DIRK DA DAVO was particularly organic. As a big fan of Dirk's diverse projects (NEON JUDGEMENT, NEON ELECTRONICS, ...), I dared to ask him to collaborate. It was special to experience how meticulously Dirk approaches a track. As a label-mate on Woole-discs, I got to know the music of BYSENSES. I admire the openness BYSENSES shows when producing his music. The initial demo for our collaboration came from him, a very inspiring piece from a very inspiring man. Just to let you know, I also make techno together with my mates ARNAUD LE GAMIN and DOCTORD under the name BARNOFF. Arnaud always manages to add that special twist to a track that you sometimes wouldn't think of yourself. For this collaboration, Arnaud gave me free rein to work on an ambient demo. Another great collaboration with a cool friend!And last but not least, I want to mention my mates Ahráyeph and JEROEN. Both virtuosi who breathe music and have made a fantastic contribution with great dedication and an open mind. Thank you so much, my friends! Special thanks to my friends and family for the  support and thank YOU for buying this album! Scan the QR-code for a lot of BONUS material!

Nevel will also perform at a Belgian festival, check it all here: SNOOZECONTROL - Ontdek het Zijspoor 3 festival!

https://nevel.bandcamp.com/merch