Dean Roberts, a creative force in experimental music, passed away this week at 49 years old, as his labels Erstwhile and Kranky confirmed on August 14.
In the early ’90s, Roberts formed Thela with Dion Workman and Paul Douglas in New Zealand. Their unique sound came from Auckland’s free-music scene, leading to two standout albums under the U.S. label Ecstatic Peace! The first album, Thela (1995), was known for its minimalist rock style that mixed post-hardcore guitar riffs with noise and simple drums. A year later, they released Argentina, which introduced ambient sounds and hints of melody. This album drew fans from both the post-rock community and electronic music creators like Fennesz.
After Thela split up, Roberts pursued solo projects using his name or the alias White Winged Moth. He often released music through his own label, Formacentric Disk, as well as Mille Plateaux and Erstwhile. His work included strange sound frequencies and complex noise elements but also had moments where he sang over eerie folk tunes. With Autistic Daughters, he continued this style in two albums for Kranky: Jealousy and Diamond and Uneasy Flowers. After a break from recording studios, he returned from Berlin in 2020 with his final album Not Fire.
Fans often find deep connections to artists who explore new sounds so bravely.
Lawrence English shared his grief online: “I am going to deeply miss you. Your way of transposing the world into song. Your way of finding the hidden voices in the instrument you played. Your smile & that laugh…always that laugh. To future ballads in future places.”
Roberts’ legacy lives on through his innovative music that touched many hearts around the world.
