Could this be the soundtrack to your self-actualisation?

Cosmic explorations for deep meditations with A Separate Reality’s ‘Heuristic Programs For Cognitive Centering’

Written by Rocco Universal

Our Starry Universe is a new label launched out of Brooklyn with a mission to help enable deep relaxation and spark inspiration among listeners. The project was set up three veteran New York DJs, producers and fervent record collectors who've pooled all of their accumulated wisdom to curate something quite special.

This is their second release, and also the second outing from Our Starry Universe, a collaboration between NYC producers Nick Chacona and Tim Wagner. Nick previously released on 20/20 Vison, Moodmusic, and Hector Works, while TV and film composer Tim Wagner has worked with 33HZ and produced Amy Douglas' Solo Recordings. Nick, Tim and Amy were also members of Sunrise Highway, who released a fine boogie-laced pop EP on Tensnake's True Romance label back in 2014.

Following on from last year's excellent limited release of 'Everywhere You Look’, A Separate Reality return to the label with a star-gazing dreamscape of an EP that's as fit for ocean-side cocktail-sipping as it is for morning mindfulness sessions. My dear mother, God rest her soul, loved the phrase “many a true word was said in jest”, which is the case for the title of this record – while it may be ever so slightly tongue in cheek, it is also pretty fitting. According to those behind the release, it's “a record about the meeting of technology and spirituality”, and I like this. It sounds like they're describing some kind of transcendent soul data, and that seems apt.

Onto the music, which I'm fairly deeply in love with. My pick from the 12” is the opener, 'The Seagull (Hare Krishna)'. The track begins with blissful acoustic guitar which could be the intro to a singer-songwriter folk ballad, but in fact, the sounds journey into a progressively psychedelic joyride, cosmic rhythms pulse as silhouettes of Eastern mysticism expand over a bassline that is the bold embodiment of funk. The more I listen to this track, the more it takes hold of me. It might be my favourite number of the year so far.

In 'Daybreak', playful melodies combine over a deep bass and reggae-inspired rim-shot beat, again building to a crescendo as it unfolds. 'I see you' is horizontal bliss, rolling through a delicate haze of beautiful melody and counterpoint. 'Memories Of Now' is no less laid back but has a slightly melancholy feel, while the dub-infused 'Never Talking To You Again' overflows with space-aged synthesizers. Probably the most upbeat from the record, 'Hairy Dancer' is my second favourite. The triumphant top-line soars above the sub-heavy bass as subtle variations on the melody weave in and out, freaky synth stabs provide texture, and loose percussion drives the groove.

It's just possible that this release will replace your Deepak Chopra mediation CD for your daily dose of psycho-spirituality, and it occurs to me that it may very well inspire a new and flexible yoga mat-based dancing counterculture. At the very least, I certainly look forward to playing it out loud over violet horizons just as soon as I'm allowed out again.

A Separate Reality ‘Heuristic Programs For Cognitive Centering’ is due out on May 27. You can order it here

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