One year ago, we all found ourselves trapped inside listening to the news tell us for the first time about masks, washing our hands, and social distancing. Some took this time to learn a new hobby, pick up a few new books, or attempt to decipher the duplicitous world of cryptocurrencies. The Chicago-based media outlet Satellite Era used their time to coalesce their manpower and resources into a niche-filling operation, providing otherworldly A/V mixes and storied collections of their favorite artists from around the globe. Earlier this year their co-founder Amir Mashayekhi gave us the opportunity to chat about their goals, media, and pursuits of mind bending art. Fast forward to their subsequent compilation, One Year Revisited, and it’s clear to see Satellite Era’s vision involves an extraordinary degree of musical latitude.

Firing up the album with melodious, Montreal-based producers Gonima and Brtrnd offer up dusty, glitched-out melodies and uplifting harmonics through their rendition of “Luminescence”. Originally released for Distant Arrays Vol 3, the song is a lush and savory mixture that was inspired by the washed-out soundscapes of early electronica. With fresh production and added flair, “Luminescence” shines with the high degree modern polish that begets the Satellite Era style and output. In March of 2021, Fosil  released his signature track “Retiform'' on Satellite Era’s Distant Arrays Vol 2, marking the Turkish icon’s move to more progressive breakbeats and experimental dance-floor flourishes. The Granul remix of “Retiform” expands on the texture dialogue in the original track, channeling the distinct feeling of a slapstick conversation between each burst of synthesis and percussion.

The UK-based producer Test Bench released “2346” in 2020 through his Welcome to a new World EP. His minimalist take on the terrain between trance and techno create a world of fine tuned four-by-four beats and swelling note relationships. The remix is completed by a 20 year vet of the U.S. breakcore movement, the Phoenix-based producer Terminal 11. This remix comes square off the heels of his hard hitting and improv based mix release and debut with Satellite Era just last year, with his production chops amping up the track’s already novel composition. To finish off the album with a crash and a bang, Kindohm’s remix of Tsone’s “Airmass” is dark, heavy, and matted with experimental rips and tares over a pulsing environment of melodious sound design. Kindohm's take on the original track turns into a commanding, explosive, and avant-garde experience befitting the compilation’s sonic profile. 

Satellite Era’s goal is salient and direct: Revolutionize the quality and coverage being offered by “bass music” media. One year after their launch, they have successfully exceeded their goals and set their sights at the top of their slice of our musical hemisphere. To honor their success, and in tandem with Mental Health Awareness Month, every penny generated by this release will be given to NoStigmas, a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on inclusivity and accessibility. It’s the full-service package that Satellite Era is gradually becoming known for; reinvesting in their surrounding communities, one release at a time. 

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