Release Notes
Label: Affin
Release: Form
Date: April 3rd, 2026
Mastered By: Artefacts Mastering
Artwork By: Markus Guentner
This morning, I am diving into the microscopic, macrotextural, and mezzomodular world of Yui Onodera and Arovane with their latest release for Joachim Spieth’s Affin label, titled Stillform. Ondera is a Tokyo-based composer whom I have been following for almost two decades, from collaborations with Celer and Stephen Vitiello to his albums on such monumental imprints as Room40, Dragon’s Eye, and Constellation Tatsu. Arovane is, of course, German electronic musician Uwe Zahn, who I hope needs no introduction. I have hungrily consumed every one of his albums appearing on City Centre Offices in the early 2000s, and then, with his return, on n5MD, A Strangely Isolated Place, Time Released Sound, and many others. The biggest honour, of course, was Uwe’s collaboration with yours truly, when we released our record Aeon on the now completed Eilean Rec project. I still get goosebumps when I think about it (let alone play our music). So I am super excited to premiere a track for you today, titled “Form 9”. Let’s listen…
Long-time fans and followers of Uwe’s sound design will be incredibly delighted by the sparse melodies and rhythms, which are further enhanced by Yui’s acoustic architecture and spatial perception. The two sonic artists come together on Stillform to create an organically sounding celestial environment that seems to swirl, fold, and echo off the invisible structures placed throughout the space. On this sonic marvel, the layering is deliberate, clearly articulated, and light, with each sound carved out to stand on its own, highlighting the intentional silence and negative space. This is a sonic marvel that would appeal to those fascinated by sound design and to those who appreciate it for its truly therapeutic benefits.
Stillform is a meeting of kinesthetic restraint and sonic precision. The album’s aesthetic lives in reduction – sparse motifs are carved out with care, micro-rhythms and attenuated textures bloom and dissolve with measured control. The collaboration reflects both artists’ shared interest in how minimal elements can create profound aural spaces: Onodera’s spatial sensibilities and Arovane’s keen melodic structuring converge to offer a listening experience that is simultaneously intimate and expansive.
The album will be available on digital and in a 6-panel digipak CD on April 3rd, 2026. There will also be a listening party on March 28th at 7:30 GMT, which you can join. Meanwhile, over at Headphone Community, we are in the final week of Joachim’s month-long residency, where we’re about to dive into his Affin label, on which, of course, this album by Yui and Uwe is released.
