This album is the culmination of many years’ experience on music for TV, collaborations, remixing, production & engineering for a variety of projects. Russell’s music has featured on many recent LSD compilations, including Wider Horizons, Butterfly Dawn & Youth in Dub. The son of The Kinks founder Dave Davies, Russell has always been exposed to strong musical influences - it is through music that he interprets his environment. Citing Acid House, IDM, Dub and Trance as influences, the electronic music scene of the early nineties was a massive inspiration to Russell. His exploration of musical variety fuelled a personal passion for continuous pregression & improvement. In 1998, after travelling in India, Russell collaborated with his dad, under Crystal Radio, writing Purusha and the Spiritual Planet (Meta Media), an inner musical journey fusing ambient & trance with classical & rock guitar. The success of this project prompted Russell to study Electronic Engineering and Music Technology at University, where he could at last submerge himself in his music obsession. Hooking up with Dragonfly Records’ Humphrey Bacchus, Russell has been writing & remixing music for the label, which he feels reflects the same ideals that Russell brings to his music. As well Abakus, Russell moonlights as one half Nada (LSD) and remixes the likes of The Orb & Kooler. Abakus’ music is awash with exuberant melodies and hooks, combining music genres to defy pigeonholing. Russell has always played the guitar and deftly fuses song-writing ideas into his electronic music. A central feature of the music is its strong melodic thread. That Much Closer To The Sun, is a lushly produced uplifting album, full of colourful optimism, whose richness of sound brings warmth to the deepest reaches. Inspired by the title of a school-friend’s poetry, Russell reveals an intimate knowledge of the power of music as lubrication for the soul, in an album which will appeal to all. The 12" Indu (inc. Shiloh remix) has achieved instant popularity with DJ’s. Getting plays from Digweed & Nick Warren, the support has been unanimous - 'outstanding' (Chris Healings/ Hybrid), 'excellent' (Phil Thompson/ Worldwide), 'really like this' (Daniel Davoli/ Worldwide). This unusual hybrid track sits equally at home on the dancefloor as it does in the bedroom.... Russell Davies is a producer to really watch out for in the future, with rumours of Abakus and Youth working on an album over the summer/autumn 2004, and many live performances scheduled at all the festivals.