Chocolate Hills is a collaborative project between Alex Paterson (founding member of The Orb) and Paul Conboy (Bomb the Bass, Apollo 440). The duo represents a convergence of UK electronic royalty, moving away from the dancefloor-oriented origins of their primary projects toward a more pastoral, 'ambient-hop' aesthetic.
Their sound identity is defined by the use of modular synthesis, extensive field recordings, and a dub-influenced approach to space and delay. While The Orb often leaned into kitsch and overt psychedelia, Chocolate Hills feels more grounded in organic textures and cinematic storytelling. Their debut album, 'A Pail of Air' (2019), was critically praised for its 'environmental' sound, blending the mechanical with the natural. The project sits within the lineage of 90s downtempo and IDM but utilizes modern production clarity to achieve a high-fidelity, immersive experience. They are often associated with the 'ambient techno' revival, though their work is notably more melodic and narrative-driven than the minimalist wing of that genre.
Shares dub, ambient techno, downtempo (subgenres); layered_dense, field_recordings, analog_warmth (production style)
Shares ambient techno, downtempo, dub (subgenres); reverb_heavy, layered_dense, analog_warmth (production style)
Shares ambient techno, downtempo, dub (subgenres); underwater, stargazing, forest (atmosphere)
Shares ambient techno, downtempo, dub (subgenres); underwater, stargazing, forest (atmosphere)
Shares ambient techno, downtempo (subgenres); layered_dense, field_recordings, analog_warmth (production style)
Shares ambient techno, downtempo, psychedelic rock (subgenres); dreamy, mysterious, contemplative (moods)
Shares ambient techno, downtempo, psychedelic rock (subgenres); underwater, stargazing, forest (atmosphere)
Shares ambient techno, downtempo, psychedelic rock (subgenres); analog_warmth, sample_based, layered_dense (production style)
Shares ambient techno, downtempo, dub (subgenres); reverb_heavy, field_recordings, analog_warmth (production style)
Shares ambient techno, downtempo, dub (subgenres); dreamy, mysterious, contemplative (moods)
Shares ambient techno, field_recordings, liquid, underwater (signature)
Shares dub, liquid, modular synth, field_recordings (subgenre)
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