<img class="alignleft" title="Markus Mehr" src="http://www.hiddenshoal.com/wp-content/uploads/markus-mehr.jpg" alt="" width="170" height="117" />Hidden Shoal Recordings today announced the signing of German experimental ambient artist <a href="http://www.hiddenshoal.com/artists/markus-mehr/">Markus Mehr</a> to its roster of artists.

Mehr’s musical journey began with the guitar. He grew up listening to bands like Black Sabbath and AC/DC, before turning his ears to darker sounds and the ethereal, experimental pop of David Sylvian. After recording and touring with several bands, he struck out on his own with home studio project Aroma.

Now working under his own name, Mehr wrote and recorded his upcoming debut album <em>Lava </em>at his home studio using guitars and synths, plus any noise-making accoutrements at hand – electric shavers, ventilators, electric tooth brushes and field recordings – all processed and distorted to create a gorgeous wall of sound, akin to the classic ’70s Kosmische music of Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream, but also the contemporary masters of textured luminosity, Fennesz and Tim Hecker.

<em>Lava </em>holds true to its title – it is a dense, steaming surge of glue-thick sound. But, after any destructive force there is new growth. Green shoots of melody arc out of the surface and populate the terrain as new possibilities emerge. A new master of heartbreaking ambient drone has arrived.

<em>Lava </em>is to be released by Hidden Shoal on the 15th of June, preceded by the single ‘Hubble’ on the 9th of April. Read a full press release <a href="http://www.hiddenshoal.com/publicity/press-releases/HSR_Press_Release-Markus_Mehr_Signing.pdf">here</a>.