In a heartbreaking announcement, experimental composer and multi-instrumentalist Dean Roberts has passed away at the age of 49. His labels, Erstwhile and Kranky, confirmed his death this week, noting that he died peacefully in his sleep, as reported by his sister.
Roberts initially gained recognition as a member of the New Zealand noise trio Thela, which he formed in the early 1990s alongside Dion Workman and Paul Douglas. The group rose to prominence within Auckland’s free-music scene, releasing two acclaimed albums under the U.S. label Ecstatic Peace! The first, 1995’s Thela, became a landmark work of rock minimalism, merging post-hardcore guitar sounds with experimental noise and sparse percussion. The subsequent album, Argentina, released in 1996, introduced ambient elements and melodic nuances, further elevating Roberts’ status within the burgeoning post-rock community.
After Thela disbanded, Roberts expanded his artistic endeavors, releasing music under his own name and through his White Winged Moth project. He often collaborated with influential labels such as Mille Plateaux and Erstwhile. His solo work emphasized innovative soundscapes filled with complex noise, while also incorporating his distinctive vocal style, transforming barren soundscapes into haunting folk narratives. This creative trajectory continued with his involvement in Autistic Daughters, producing two notable albums for Kranky, Jealousy and Diamond and Uneasy Flowers. In 2020, he released Not Fire, his final studio album, marking a return from Berlin after an extended hiatus.
Tributes have poured in following Roberts’ passing, with Lawrence English expressing heartfelt sentiments about the late artist’s impact: “I will deeply miss you. Your unique ability to translate the world into music, your determination to uncover the hidden voices within your instruments, and your unforgettable smile and laughter will always resonate.”
