Ruede Hagelstein and Watergate go hand in hand. Not only is Hagelstein one of the longest-running residents at the club, but he's also the man behind some of the label's most acclaimed music and the curator responsible for lucky number 13 in the illustrious Watergate mix series (WG 013 CD). Considering this, it seemed obvious to put him up to his next task: an album. It is with great anticipation and excitement that Watergate Records brings you the first artist album for both Hagelstein and the label itself, Apophenia. "Apophenia" is the experience of seeing patterns or connections in random or meaningless data, and for

Hagelstein, this is a perfect way to describe his writing process, in which ideas appear from the empty, chaotic darkness. A random chord progression or percussion arrangement opens the door to the imagination where structures appear and begin to take shape. Unlike most of his previous work, Apophenia is not strictly attached to the dancefloor, but created to work just as seamlessly while listening at home as in the club. For over a year, Hagelstein collected ideas and visualized his plan. It was important not to mimic his earlier work, but to focus on a certain sound. By staying minimalistic yet extremely organic and melodic he has created a timeless long-player. While the album spans a range of emotions, it is always grounded in Hagelstein's unparalleled, singular sound. Pair that with some notable features from

PillowTalk, Hollis P. Monroe & Overnite, Justin Evans, Mentrix, and C.A.R., and you have a plethora of dazzling music. With "Moon Rabbit" and "Life Is a Beach" Hagelstein displays the sound of a night at the club, while "Already Undone (feat. PillowTalk)" takes a ride through the deeper, emotional spaces. In the end, Apophenia is the perfect display of not just Hagelstein's artistry, but Watergate's musical vision, which

together create an illustrious and undeniable entity. CD version includes two exclusive tracks: "Found a Place" and "Pareidolia."