Morals and Dogma

Based in Oslo, Norway, composer Helge Sten has been crafting this music since the early 90s, a deeply atmospheric, grainy minimalism that slows time down and explores the very particles of sound itself. The Deathprod concept arose in 1991, when Helge realised his complex array of homemade electronics, samplers, sound processing and analogue effects – cumulatively known as the ‘Audio Virus’ – could add a musical dimension above and beyond the merely technical. Almost obsolete samplers and playback devices distort and transform sounds into unrecognisable mutations of their former selves. The virus breeds layers of complex and overlapping sonic debris, creating a kind of cellular composition. Helge is a founder member of Norwegian improvising group Supersilent and has produced records by Motorpsycho, Susanna, Jenny Hval, Arve Henriksen and others. In 1998, alongside Biosphere, he electronically transformed the music of Norway’s leading contemporary composer, Arne Nordheim. More recently he composed music for Harry Partch’s legendary invented instruments for the Cologne based Ensemble Musikfabrik. Now the core trilogy of Deathprod albums will be released for the first time on vinyl and download – cut to vinyl by Rashad Becker at Dubplates and Mastering in Berlin. Together they form Deathprod’s complete official canon. 'Morals and Dogma' – 'Morals and Dogma' is a ritual. Ten years in the making, it contains four pieces, recorded between 1994 and 1997. This is Deathprod at full intensity, featuring an even more expansive and billowing sound as Sten transforms and blends the textures of violins, saw and harmonium. Pieces like “Dead Peoples Things” and “Tron” were revised numerous times, even though the very first versions of both were chosen for the final sequencing of the album. Both Ole Henrik Moe and Hans Magnus Ryan contribute with their unique approach to the violin, while Moe extends the metallic and textural qualities of “Cloudchamber,” utilizing a musical saw. The harmonium on “Orgone Donor” was recorded direct to cassette by Hans Magnus Ryan, and later multi-tracked with dual violins at Audio Virus LAB. “Cloudchamber” is layered with electronic treatments of the decay and noise, from a Maestro Echoplex tape-echo machine, and also lends it title from one of the beautifully crafted microtonal instruments of Harry Partch. First released on Rune Grammofon in 2004, this has been pressed from the 2004 original high resolution master.

Deathprod (aka Helge Sten) has spent over a decade tied into Oslo's music community, but his role is impossible ...