"A Cambient Variations" by Dean De Benedictis: It is, once again, a time to welcome new concepts into the world, and this means embracing new forms of art and music as they change. The new ambient/chill CD by Dean De Benedictis entitled A "Cambient Variations" is a perfect example of this flux. ====== a cam-bi-ent mu-sic = a cappella ambient music ====== ALL of the instrumentation for this CD was created from a single human voice. Although others have begun using this same technique, few, if any, have approached it as an atmospheric aesthetic. With some songs possessing grooves and/or rhythms, and others just drifting, "A Cambient Variations" by Dean De Benedictis, is one of the first projects to explore this method as a form of ambient/chill music, specifically. INNITIALLY, "A Cambient Variations" will be available through CDBaby.com only, but before long will be at a digital distributor NEAR YOU. If you are an ambient or chill-out fan, at all, try a new approach and check out this unique CD. If you are close to someone who is an ambient or chill-out fan, this CD would provide them a cool and interesting discovery for the holidays. Hear short clips and buy a copy at the CDBaby page ::::::::::: http://cdbaby.com/cd/ddebenedictisTHIS IS A PROFILE FOR FANS OF DEAN DE BENEDICTIS. FOR MORE ABOUT DEAN AND HIS MUSIC, VISIT WWW.FATELESS MUSIC.COM, OR LOOK UP DEAN DE BENEDICTIS CDs UNDER 'MUSIC' AT AMAZON.COM.::::::::::::::: TO PURCHASE A COPY OF THE DEAN DE BENEDICTIS RELEASE "SALVAGING THE PAST" (2005) VISIT SP RECORDS AT WWW.SPOTTEDPECCARY.COM ::::::::::::::: TO BUY THE DEAN DE BENEDICTIS RELEASE "A LONE REPLY" (2001) VISIT FATELESS MUSIC AT WWW.FATELESSMUSIC.COM_______________________________________ _________________________________ DEAN DE BENEDICTIS - Dean's music, among other of his mediums, is the result of his will to tie an essential common thread together between opposing genres and mentalities, as well as draw from them a natural sense of emotion, expanse, and mystery. This Southern California-based producer / performer / musician / visual and conceptual artist (otherwise known as SURFACE 10) has always utilized his interest in a variety of styles and cultures to enrich the quality of his musical expression. Beginning his deep exploration of music in the 80's, De Benedictis covered a wide gamut of musical training and experience; moving through many jazz fusion and progressive rock bands, music theory schools, and producing/performing source music for network television over 12 years of his career._____________________________________________________ ___________________ Dean De Benedictis & Vic Hennegan - LIVE ambient music on WXPN
____________________________________________________________ ____________ DEAN DE BENEDICTIS: A LONE REPLY - This CD, released in 2001, is an atmospheric collage of multi ethnic influences based primarily on American Indian culture and spirit. On "A Lone Reply" Dean draws on deep, elongated, atmospheric melodies sometimes accompanied by driving tribal drum rhythms. Such instruments as American Indian flutes (Mayan style), ocarina, Balinese flutes, piano, synth, hand drums, slit drums, and Dean's voice can be heard throughout "a lone reply", ninety percent of which was played by hand. Field recordings and various samples were also utilized to create slowly evolving layers of sound, merging into a blissful, chasm-like setting. "A Lone Reply" portrays a spirituality, simplicity, and sensitivity based ..ness with the earth, while at the same time seeks to extract darkness and sorrow from the mystery of existence. For Dean De Benedictis, known to the electronic music world as Surface 10, A lone reply is a new turn, yet not unfamiliar territory. After accumulating an expansive sense of place from his travels, connecting with the land and native people of the West, Dean was moved to pay a solitary homage to these earth-based values by creating a full-length CD of tribal ambient music. Such instruments as American Indian flutes (Mayan style), ocarina, Balinese flutes, piano, synth, hand drums, slit drums, and Dean's voice can be heard throughout "A lone reply", ninety percent of which was played by hand. Some of these instruments were accumulated during Dean's travels through the American West and abroad. Field recordings and various samples were also utilized to create slowly evolving layers of sound, merging into a blissful, yet deep and chasmic sound-setting. Dean states, "In a time of overwhelming technological advancement, this is simply a lone reply to it all. One with deep serenity and attonment." Some of the proceeds from "A Lone Reply" go towards various Native American charities. ____________________________________________________________ ______________ DEAN DE BENEDICTIS: SALVAGING THE PAST - Dean De Benedictis (a.k.a. SURFACE 10), has envisioned a vital work of instrumental compositions, exploring the art of electronic music with a refreshing integrity. Blending traditional electronic tones and structures with acoustic elements, he has sculpted an album that is raw and direct. In essence, he has captured a heart of true electronic music, while suggesting more thought-provoking themes. De Benedictis realizes this vision through various electronic tonalities, samples, and acoustic instruments such as mayahachi flute, bamboo flutes, cello, piano, voice, guitars, hand drums, and percussion - applying all, with the passion and inspiration of the masters before him. Salvaging the Past is not only an homage to the electronic music of the past, but expands the vocabulary of the present - Spotted Peccary Records.____________________________________________________ ______________________ DEAN DE BENEDICTIS: A CAMBIENT VARIATIONS - Dean De Benedictis has found his voice, and on A Cambient Variations (75'15") uses it on every track. Utilizing a variety of processing techniques, human vocal sound is layered into chords, shifted into choirs, looped into rhythms and stretched into unrecognizable textures. Obstruents become percussion riffs, grunts and groans make bass grooves and rhythm accents, while ethereal "oohs" and breathy "aahs" are transformed into a mysterious resonating atmosphere. Squeaks mutate into roars and whispered words resound under a cavernous echo as De Benedictis, using editing software, transforms elemental vocalizations into his singular digital soundscapes. A Cambient Variations transcends Ambient Music. With its unique character and original concept, the nine tracks each head out into uncharted experimental realms - each telling a different story. Taken all together the artist is revealed in his music. - Chuck van Zyl/STAR'S END 23 October 2008________________________________________________________ __________________ A BRIEF MUSICAL HISTORY: In 1996 Dean De Benedictis released his debut ambient/electronic music (borderline space rock) CD on Hypnotic/Cleopatra Records, which was self titled under the alias SURFACE 10. Following that was Dean's collaberation project with George Sara (of THC) called Cathexis, releasing the CD Exempli Gratia, in 1997 (also on Hypnotic/Cleopatra), a gift to the techno trance world. Just after these initial releases Dean appeared on various compilations (and in various genres) for labels like Hypnos, Lektronic Soundscapes, and Cleopatra. In the new millennium, 2000, Dean put out the technologically edgy/progressive/IDM style Surface 10 CD called In Vitro Tide on DiN Records, followed by his tribal ambient CD release A Lone Reply debuted under his own name, on Fateless in 2001. Dean then formed the Fateless Flows Collective and appeared on their compilations for 2004 and 2005. In 2004 the Surface 10 CD Borrowed Time 2000 was made available by Space For Music Records as a compilation of previously unreleased Surface 10 material, and in 2005 Spotted Peccary Records put out Dean's previously unreleased mix of all ambient vibes and time zones, Salvaging The Past. ////////// For more about Dean visit www.fatelessmusic.com, or for more about Surface 10 visit www.surface10.net ---or--- www.din.org.uk/artists.html..surface10
