PlatEAU

PlatEAU is the collaborative project of cEvin Key (Skinny Puppy) and the late Phil Western (Download). Formed in 1996, the project emerged as a more psychedelic, groove-oriented offshoot of their work in Download.

While Skinny Puppy focused on industrial aggression, PlatEAU explored the 'Subconscious' aesthetic through the lens of IDM, techno, and dub. Their debut, 'Music for Grass Bars', established a thematic connection to cannabis culture, using it as a framework for expansive, liquid sound design. The project is characterized by its use of modular synthesizers and a 'loose' improvisational feel that contrasts with the precision of many IDM contemporaries. Over their career, they moved from the downtempo leanings of their debut toward the more complex, rhythmic abstractions found on 'Spacecake' and 'Kushbush'. Critically, they are viewed as essential architects of the 'Vancouver Sound' in electronic music, bridging the gap between industrial experimentation and the burgeoning global IDM scene. Their influence persists in the work of experimental electronic artists who prioritize texture and atmosphere over traditional song structure.