Distal

Civilization Distal

For Distal, 28 year old Atlanta producer Michael Rathbun, his highly anticipated debut album ‘Civilization’ is the crowning point of his past two years of work. Releases and remixes for labels such as Soul Jazz Records, Grizzly, Fortified Audio, Trouble & Bass, Seclusiasis and Tectonic (not to mention his own imprint, Embassy Recordings, which he runs in tandem with old school friend Ethan Anderson aka Mite), and tours with Pearson Sound and Africa Hi Tech has seen his name on the lips of discerning electronic tastemakers worldwide. Before entering the world of production, Distal spent a few years researching a sensational auditory phenomenon called Synesthesia at Georgia State University. One day while digging through break-core records he stumbled upon a sound that would inspire him to launch his production career. This record, in a turn of complete serendipity, was ‘Punisher’ by Tectonic label head Pinch. Using his newfound passion, traditional teachings and his scientific studies in unison he ran head first into the studio. Taking influences from his love of techno, jungle and hardcore, Distal’s sound fluctuates between a wide array of moods, rhythms and tempos that veer between dubstep, juke, footwork, house and, naturally being from Atlanta, southern hip hop. From popping 808 cowbells on opener ‘The Sun’ to dancehall minimalism in ‘Rattlesnake’ to the Balearic tribalism of ‘She Wears Pearls’; these elements join the dots on Distal’s map of ‘Civilization’.