“Safe In The Steep Cliffs” (1320 Records)
Emancipator (Doug Appling)
Digital release date: January 19, 2010

“Safe In The Steep Cliffs” is a set of finely-crafted, epic instrumentals from Portland-based electronica/hip hop/downtempo producer Emancipator, featuring tight, syncopated percussion, organic melodies and eclectic samples. This subtle beatmaster eludes genre classification but will appeal to admirers of DJ Shadow, Bonobo, Nujabes, Pretty Lights.

To some, it must seem like this young electronic producer came out of nowhere this year. Emancipator played his first live show in July 2009, opening for Bonobo at the Roseland Theater (cap. 1500). Since then, he’s toured with Bassnectar, drawn crowds at festivals like Trinumeral and Symbiosis, and closed out Sound Tribe Sector 9’s late night parties in Denver at the request of the band.

But those in the know have been following Emancipator since he self-released his first album, Soon It Will Be Cold Enough, at the age of 19 in 2006. His agile melodies layered over headnodic, immaculately-produced beats captivated fans across the internet and across the world. “Soon It Will Be Cold Enough” was picked up by Japanese super-producer Nujabes, pressed in Japan and sold 5,000 copies in the first six months. Emancipator landed a Puma sponsorship, gave an interview to Rolling Stone Japan, discovered one of his songs was played at the Beijing Olympics (still trying to figure out how that happened) and his song “Shook,” a mashup that perfectly mixes Mobb Deep’s mighty raps with a haunting track from the Icelandic band Sigur Ros, become the highest-rated song on Hype Machine’s “Best 50 Songs of 2007,” and appeared on Hype Machine as the #2 most popular song in April 2009. Meanwhile, fans waited hungrily for the next album.

“Safe In The Steep Cliffs” blends new instrumentation and organic samples with the signature Emancipator style of clean production, silky melodies and addictive drums. Dense layers of choirs, horns, American folk instruments such as the banjo and mandolin, violin and some distinct Asian influences make for a playful but refined album built out of intricate tracks listeners can enjoy on as many levels as they want. Dance to it, chill out to it, immerse your mind in it: http://emancipatormusic.com.

Contact: Keith LeWinter, 503.288.1561  keith@abstractearthproject.com.

Emancipator’s upcoming tour dates:

Feb 2 Crown Hall w/ Bassnectar Mendocino, California

Feb 3 Arcata Theatre w/ Bassnectar Arcata, California

Feb 4 McDonald Theatre w/ Bassnectar Eugene, Oregon

Feb 5 Roseland Theater w/ Bassnectar Portland, Oregon

Feb 6 Showbox SoDo w/ Bassnectar Seattle, Washington

Feb 22    Wilma Theater w/ STS9 Missoula, Montana

Feb 25    The Depot w/ STS9 Salt Lake City, Utah

Feb 26    House of Blues w/ STS9 Las Vegas, Nevada

Feb 27    Marquee Theatre w/ STS9 Tempe, Arizona

Feb 28    Rialto Theater w/ STS9 Tucson, Arizona

Mar 3      New Earth Music Hall – Athens, GA

Mar 4      90 Proof – Knoxville, TN

Mar 5      412 Market – Chattanooga, TN

Mar 6     12th & Porter – Nashville, TN