Variant

People who like Variant also listen to Tim Hecker, Fennesz, William Basinski, Leyland Kirby, The Haxan Cloak, Deaf Center, Grouper, alva noto, Lawrence English, Kangding Ray.

Mute released Variant on Mon Dec 08 2014. The 5 track Leftfield release features Ben Frost. **Mute** has also released vinyl by [Swans](/artist/swans), [Cabaret Voltaire](/artist/cabaret-voltaire), [Swell Maps](/artist/swell-maps), [Can](/artist/can), and [Mark Stewart](/artist/mark-stewart). Browse the [Mute catalogue](/label/mute). People who like Variant also listen to Tim Hecker, Fennesz, William Basinski, Leyland Kirby, The Haxan Cloak, Deaf Center, Grouper, alva noto, Lawrence English, Kangding Ray.

Blanck Mass

Cliff Martinez

Colin Stetson

The music of Ben Frost is about contrast; influenced as much by Classical Minimalism as by Punk Rock and Metal, Frost's throbbing guitar-based textures emerge from nothing and slowly coalesce into huge, forbidding forms that often eschew conventional structures in favor of the inevitable unfoldings of vast mechanical systems. “…The emotional power of Frost's music comes precisely from the stark contrast between extremely basic musical material and the deadly virtual instruments he invents to perform it… This is Arvo Pärt as arranged by Trent Reznor” – Wire Magazine, 2007 On albums like Steel Wound, released on the Room40 label in 2003 (Pitchfork: “An exemplary ambient experience”), Theory of Machines on Bedroom Community in 2007 (Boomkat: “The Future of electronic music…”) and 2009's BY THE THROAT (NME: “a hollow, unforgiving, brutal yet utterly beautiful record, full of deep intricacies that won’t let you go.”) Frost’s music is more than a cerebral exercise and has an undeniable visceral presence, felt as much as heard. His compositions are created with an acute awareness of the listener and their comfort thresholds, exploiting every extreme of pitch and volume. His notorious, building-shaking performances at international festivals including Montreal’s famed MUTEK combine amplified electronics with the furious thrashing of live guitars. Frost himself has been described as “one of the most interesting and groundbreaking producers in the world today” (Boomkat). His music’s intense physicality has filled gallery spaces and driven contemporary dance productions by Chunky Move, the Icelandic Dance Company, and the acclaimed choreographers Erna Ómarsdottir and Wayne McGregor. Ben recently collaborated with labelmate Daníel Bjarnason, resulting in the album SÓLARIS, released on Bedroom Community in 2011.

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