The solo project of Wisconsin producer/drummer Jordan Cohen, Chants resurfaces with his third full-length album 'We Are All Underwater,' due out October 30th on Seattle-based label Hush Hush. Over the two years that have passed since his sophomore album 'I Feel Like I Feel It' (Hush Hush), Chants has continued to captivate ears with his unique style through steady remix work and contributions to the 'Heterotopia' compilation series (curated by L.A. left-field club label Astral Plane Recordings). Earlier this year, one of his kalimba-driven productions made its way to emerging Milwaukee MC WebsterX for his breakout single “Doomsday,” an underground sensation that quickly gained critical recognition and introduced his sound to a new audience.
All of these varied creations paved the way for 'We Are All Underwater,' a mesmerizing album and summation of Chants’ multifaceted sound. Exploring both immersive, introspective textures and more physical beats geared for club speakers, Chants has found a harmonious equilibrium between these two disparate styles. The opening two tracks quickly indicate this balance, the loose and cinematic instrumental “We Are” leading into “All Underwater,” a shape-shifting future pop anthem that features vocals from Mereki, a Los Angeles artist that has previously collaborated with Sky Ferreira and Kylie Minogue. Twisting her vocals through slicing claps, buzzing synths, and a labyrinth of low-end, the song’s aqueous tone laid the groundwork for the sonic and emotional direction for the album.
Flowing in and out of contemplative downtempo passages and more viscerally kinetic singles, We Are All Underwater is guided by Chants’ evolved production style while also allowing room for his guest collaborators to shine. Mereki appears once again on the dynamic single “Gossamer,” fellow Madison-based vocalist Jentri Colello adds an ethereal touch on “Blue Holes,” and blossoming Milwaukee-via-LA producer Riley Lake contributes a trans-human vocal to “Halogen.” Chants’ crafty creation process is on full display on “Submersed,” an instrumental track composed entirely of sounds recorded at his day job and re-purposed into an intricately detailed sound world. Concluding in true collaborative spirit, the album wraps up with an enveloping and dystopic remix of “All Underwater” from Seattle-based electronic producer and Hush Hush flagship artist Kid Smpl.
Additional musicians:
Tony Barba - bass clarinet on "We Are"
Mereki Beach - vocals on "All Underwater" and "Gossamer"
Riley Lake - vocals on "Halogen"
Boom Forest - vocals on "Burbling" and "Oxygen Loops"
Jentri Colello - vocals on "Blue Holes"
Frank Matin Lawrence - guitar on "Oxygen Loops"
supported by 11 fans who also own “We Are All Underwater”
Timeless classic, I've discovered this album in 2019 and I still think it's one of the best albums ever. Great for long train rides and smoking weed at 3am akizona
supported by 9 fans who also own “We Are All Underwater”
I always think I have enough ambient albums but then I find something too good to pass up. Just really solid, not groundbreaking or anything but well worth adding to your ambient collection alienasu
Serene ambient music that evokes guided meditation through the use of phase-shifting melodies, droning bass, and gauzy synth textures. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 8, 2024
Spacious ambient with a frosty atmosphere from Metric System 1981; one restored piece from the early '80s paired with a newer, darker work. Bandcamp New & Notable May 16, 2023
This compilation album features a collective of artists who used synthesizers, voice, and nature recordings to create their tracks. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 17, 2023