Ron Trent - What Do The Stars Say To You [Night Time Stories]

Format: White colored LP in a gatefold sleeve.

In 1990, Ronald Lee Trent Jr. was a teenager when he created Altered States, a raw and futuristic techno-not-techno anthem that, in retrospect, was something of a stylistic anomaly for such a young artist. Over the years — and seasons spent in Chicago, New York, and Detroit — he developed his signature sound and earned recognition as a global leader in deep, soulful house and garage. That story has been told, and at first glance, the worn-out cliché of "house legend" still seems like a fair label. But the reality is that Ron Trent is much more than that, and has been for some time. A genuine musician, composer, and producer in the most traditional and artisanal sense of the term, today his figure is more akin to Quincy Jones than to an average DJ who strings together templated beats.

Those in the know have not overlooked these broader skills, and so it was not difficult to assemble a stellar cast for his highly collaborative and ambitious new LP, What Do The Stars Say To You. Figures such as the Brazilians Ivan Conti and Alex Malheiros of Azymuth, violin virtuoso Jean-Luc Ponty, ambient master Gigi Masin, sensation band Khruangbin, and more participated. The iconic François K, a key figure in the New York scene, handled the mastering. At various times, Ron himself played drums, percussion, keyboards, synthesizers, piano, guitar, and electronics.

Inspired by the golden age of ambitious and luxurious albums of the 70s and 80s, WDTSSTY is a love letter to the long play format, where musical richness and a silky, enveloping flow allow seemingly disparate genres to coexist in harmony. Each track is a high-fidelity odyssey: Trent incorporated a wide range of live instruments and electronic elements to form a sophisticated and euphonious whole. He himself describes it as "designed to harmonize with spirit, urban life, and nature"; a kind of sonic nourishment for the soul that gently accompanies you into warm nights where everything is right.

Originally aspiring to be an architect, Trent conceives his musical and collaborative approach under the same principles. He firmly believes in the nourishing power of sound, and sees clear parallels between both disciplines: after all, the purpose of good architecture is to improve the quality of life. "With WARM, through sound design, I built structures for musicians to inhabit and decorate with their talent. That was a great compliment to me," he comments.

But the conditions for good collaboration go beyond the structural, as Trent explains: "I'm a fan of everyone who participated in the album, especially Jean-Luc and Azymuth, who are part of my DNA. Each track was created with the guest in mind; for example, when I started writing Sphere, I immediately knew that 'this IS Ponty.' I played the keyboards in his style and recorded a guide violin solo with a synthesizer, which he then incredibly reinterpreted. Cool Water revolves around Azymuth's themes, so when I sent it to Ivan, he immediately saw himself reflected in the piece; he understood perfectly where it was going. For Melt Into You, I contacted Alex on Instagram, sent him the song, he liked it, and in less than 24 hours he sent me back six different bass takes."

"On the other hand, Admira began with a sketch that Gigi sent me and ended up becoming something that combines Jon Hassell-style chords and the spirit of Carlos Santana's Aquamarine, which links to the recurring nautical theme in Masin's work," he adds.

With community, history, and the struggle for racial equality always present in his thoughts, Flos Potentia translates from Spanish as "the power of the flower," but far from promoting a hippie idealism, it refers to the plants that fueled the slave trade: tobacco, sugar, and cotton. Accompanied by Khruangbin, Trent takes this reflection to an ethereal and clear stratosphere, channeling Dinosaur L, Hi-Tension, and afrobeat.

In addition to his stellar collaborators, Trent cites key influences such as Prince's Gigolos Get Lonely Too, Herb Alpert's Beyond, David Mancuso, Jan Hammer, Tangerine Dream, The Cars, Trevor Horn, Alan Parsons Project, and Organization, the pre-Kraftwerk incarnation. Echoes of many others are also perceived, such as George Benson, Vangelis, Loose Ends, Maze, Flora Purim, Weather Report, Atmosphere, Grace Jones, James Mason, and Brass Construction.