Dehli9

Released in 2003 on Studio !K7, Dehli9 is the third studio album by Tosca, the duo of Richard Dorfmeister and Rupert Huber. While their previous work established them as leaders of the Austrian downtempo scene, Dehli9 expanded their sonic palette through its ambitious double-disc structure. Disc one features ten tracks of their signature 'future jazz' and broken beat styles, characterized by high-fidelity production and a relaxed, dub-influenced tempo. Disc one guest vocalists provide abstract, often repetitive hooks that serve as textural elements rather than traditional songs. Disc two consists of twelve 'Sessions,' which are largely instrumental, piano-based compositions that lean into ambient and neoclassical territories. This second half was a significant departure, showcasing Huber's classical training and the duo's interest in minimalist structures. Critics, including those at BBC Music, noted the album's length and its split personality, often praising the first disc's consistency while finding the second disc's austerity a challenging but rewarding shift in the Tosca narrative.