German producer Alex Breitling makes an emphatic return to Purified Records with his two-track ‘Cold Strings’ EP. Floating across a cinematic soundscape, the title track features undulating patterns and soaring strings, completed by touching vocals and striking synths. Diving into ‘Dreamcatcher’, Alex devises a vast arrangement with gentle instrumentation, airy vocals and rhythmic percussion.

The ‘Cold Strings’ artwork features a graceful image of a manta ray captured by Daniel Nicholson. Manta rays are among the largest species of rays, with wingspans reaching up to 29 feet (8.8 meters). These creatures are filter feeders, primarily consuming plankton and small fish by swimming with their mouths open, and are also known for their distinctive cephalic fins, which resemble horns and are used to funnel food into their mouths while swimming. Manta rays are found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, often congregating around cleaning stations where small fish remove parasites from their bodies. Despite their impressive size, manta rays are gentle giants and pose no significant threat to humans, with encounters often characterized by curiosity and awe.

Located on the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, Daniel Nicholson is one of the globe’s most prominent professional underwater photographers. He seeks to share the beauty and magic of the underwater world to inspire conservation and change.

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