A rare album exclusive on DiS, from a rare talent...

Nathan Fake makes the kind of electronic music that soundtracks those parties in your dreams. He deals in a gentle throb, which ectoplasmically seeps from speakers, rather than thrusts itself at you. Sure, bandspotters amongst you may hear the influence of Aphex's ambient textures drifting in and out, as much as you may feel a kinship with the likes of Luke Abbott, Fuck Buttons, Gold Panda, etc. Having said all that, Nathan is a special talent, who's as much an inspiration to his contemporaries, as he is a peer. This new record follows on from where Hard Islands left off ('World of Spectrum' and 'Iceni Strings' especially), but a few tracks also wouldn't sound massively out of place with Drowning in a Sea of Love's eeriness either. Nathan's notsomuch evolved, so much as he's harnessed his sound, and in doing so found more of a heart and soul to what at times can be be sparse with deep-space chill, such are the sorts of voyages he takes you on...

Steam Days is released next week. Pre-order it on iTunes or pick up via Border Community.

Album Stream

Track-By-Track guide by Nathan Fake

Paean

The title actually comes from an anagram of my full name (Nathan Paul Fake) which is "A Paean Thankful", which I thought was amazing although a bit twee for a track name, so chopped it a bit.

Cascade Airways

The name of a now-defunct American airline. No particular reason for this title, just thought it was a really nice sounding title.

Iceni Strings

'Iceni Strings' felt like something that sounded very me but also sounds pretty different at the same time. It'll be the first thing of mine people hear after hard islands which was a pretty hard-edged record. This is a much warmer track but it still has an underlying heaviness to it. It's really simple but strong, I thought it just makes a perfect single really. The Iceni is an ancient Celtic tribe that lived in what's now Norfolk. I chose the name because I think the melody is dead simple but memorable in the way a lot of ancient folk music is, and I just felt like the whole track had a total celtic/tribal campfire vibe to it. haha.

Old Light

A reference to when you look up at the stars and what you're actually seeing is light from millions of years ago. Always blows my mind a bit when I look at the stars and think of that idea.

Harnser

Norfolk word for 'heron'. Aas originally called "Harnser Services" which is the name of my dad's repairs/handyman business, but I decided to chop it down. Another nice Norfolk reference!

World of Spectrum

The name of a website, an online database for zx spectrum games. I used to play them all the time when I was little. Those games are still my favourites. More nostalgia...

Rue

Rue = regret (I was in an intense state of regret when I wrote this).

Sad Vember

This was written during a sad November

Neketona

The Anglo-Saxon name for the village where i grew up in Norfolk (Necton).

Glow Hole

This title doesn't really have any meaning, I just liked how it sounded and fitted the track. I think it sounds quite sci-fi and fantastical.

Warble Epics

The title came to me in a dream and remembered it for years, waiting for myself to make a track that fitted the name.

---

Tour Dates

30th August: Electrowerkz, London, UK [album launch]
1st September: Strandclub Naturel, The Hague, Netherlands
8th September: Dimension Festival, Pula, Croatia
15th September: Incubate Festival, Tilburg, Netherlands
21st September: Scopitone, Nantes, France
28th September: Osophere Festival, Strasbourg, France
29th September: Marsatac Festival, Marseille, France
5th October: Mutek, Mexico City, Mexico
11th October: Robot Festival @ Palazzo Re Enzo, Bologna, Italy
12th October: Cube @ Demode, Bari, Italy
13th October: Dancity @ Serendipity, Foligno, Italy
19th October: Goa, Rome, Italy
20th October: Tunnel, Milan, Italy
23rd October: Flex, Vienna, Austria
24th October: Der Kongress, Munich, Germany
25th October: Mousonturm, Frankfurt, Germany
26th October: Baalsaal, Hamburg, Germany
27th October: Horst, Berlin, Germany
2nd November: La Romandie, Lausanne, Switzerland
1st December: Warehouse Project, Manchester, UK [supporting Orbital]
2nd December: Picturehouse, Edinburgh, UK [supporting Orbital]
3rd December: O2 Academy, Bristol, UK [supporting Orbital]
4th December: O2 Academy, Leicester, UK [supporting Orbital]
5th December: O2 Academy, Newcastle, UK [supporting Orbital]
7th December: 53 Degrees, Preston, UK [supporting Orbital]
8th December: O2 Academy, Sheffield, UK [supporting Orbital]
9th December: O2 Academy, Birmingham, UK [supporting Orbital]
11th December: Dome, Brighton, UK [supporting Orbital]
12th December: O2 Academy, Bournemouth, UK [supporting Orbital]
13th December: O2 Academy, Oxford, UK [supporting Orbital]
14th December: O2 Academy, Brixton, London, UK [supporting Orbital]
15th December: O2 Academy, Brixton, London, UK [supporting Orbital]

Photo by Robert Bellamy.