Solvent

Solvent is Toronto post-techno producer Jason Amm, who releases melodic electro/nica under that name through his own Suction label, cofounded with friend and label partner Gregory DeRocher (aka Lowfish) in 1997. Traceable to a number of nonexclusive influences spanning the last 20-odd years of elecronic music (early electro-pop innovators such as the Normal, Liaisons Dangereuse, Visage, and Soft Cell), Amm's music is a fidgety, lo-fi fusion of the range of those influences combined with strains of current post-techno comparable to Aphex Twin and Autechre. Solvent contributed three tracks to Suction's first 12-inch before the label issued his self-titled debut CD in 1998. A mixture of warm, melodic, reassuring melodies and by turns mellow and harsh rhythms, the CD drew instant comparisons to Aphex Twin, although just apparent were the influence of Yaz and early Human League. A split 7-inch with like-minded (if not like-sounding) Italian duo D'Arcangelo followed in 1999, as did another split with label partner Lowfish on German/British label City Center Offices. Amm also contributed Solvent material to compilations on Spelunk, Lo Recordings, Vinyl Communications, and Serotonin, and released his second full-length, Solvently One Listens, at the end of 1999.