Earth Nation

Markus Deml and Ralf Hildenbeutel, both experienced studio hands, originated this German ambient/new age rock project, which surfaced in 1994 through the Eye Q Records imprint. Hildenbeutel had already built standing in ambient dance circles by serving as co-producer to label founder Sven Vath. Deml, a guitarist who had previously teamed with several rock groups, supplied further range. The two routed these separate backgrounds into their opening album, where layered guitars and vocals rest over a mesmeric, fluid pulse. Their first single, ‘Alienated’, soon drew listeners in Europe’s trance clubs.