Eden Transmission

Eden Transmission was a short-lived but influential electronic music project from early 1990s Los Angeles, formed by Michael Kandel and Tom Chasteen—co-founders of the seminal West Coast label Exist Dance. Known for their genre-blurring approach, Eden Transmission blended breakbeat, proto-trance, and psychedelic elements into a sound that was both hypnotic and ahead of its time.

Their sole release, the 1991 12-inch I’m So High, became a cult classic in underground rave circles. The title track, especially in its “Ubud Mix,” is a 12-minute journey through swirling arpeggios, dubbed-out vocal fragments, and layered breakbeats. The B-side tracks, “Transmission: Maya” and “Powertrance,” further explore tribal rhythms and cosmic textures, reflecting the duo’s fascination with mysticism and altered states.

Eden Transmission’s sound was emblematic of the early 1990s West Coast rave scene—experimental, spiritual, and unbound by genre. Their work, along with other aliases like Voodoo Transmission and High Lonesome Sound System, helped define the Exist Dance aesthetic: a fusion of acid house, ambient techno, and psychedelic breakbeats.

Though their discography is limited, Eden Transmission’s influence endures. Their music has been reissued, introducing a new generation to their innovative sound.