Category: New

Drawn Onward – Alan Goffinski and Sarita Bhatt

Trust me when I say I have something very different for you today: Drawn Onward is a palindromic audio documentary about the migrant experience. It plays the exact same forwards as it does backwards. The producers were inspired by the yearning of migrants to return to the lands they and their people have left behind. If they got it wrong this could have felt gimmicky, but the result is magical, unnerving and powerful. The reversed speech almost sounds like a foreign tongue which is then translated. All in all it is an amazing piece of sound design.

https://radiolab.org/podcast/short-cuts-drawn-onward

Credit to two of my favourite non-music podcasts, RadioLab, and BBC’s Short Cuts, presented by Josie Long.

Image credits: Jared Bartman

My Noise is Nothing – Lord of the Isles

This is a really special album. My Noise is Nothing is the second collaboration between poet and spoken word performer Ellen Renton, and producer Lord of the Isles. You can read my thoughts on their first release Whities 029 from 2020 here.

For this release they have re-located their unique alchemy. Lord of the Isles creates a set of beguiling, luscious soundscapes – over these Ellen Renton delivers her thought-provoking, evocative, yearnful verse. The music and her voice intertwine with a harmonic give-and-take that is hard to describe. The result is the kind of album you can play again and again.

If you are lucky, you may be able to grab a ticket to see them perform live. They touch down in London at Kings Place on 21st March.

Romantic Gestures Vol. 1 – Fort Romeau

There aren’t many more consistent house producers over the past few years than Fort Romeau. Now he has released a sumptuous 8 track number called Romantic Gestures Vol. 1 on his own Romantic Gestures imprint. RA describe it as vibey and romantic, which gets at half of it. What makes it special for me, is that these tracks are as at home in your headphones as they would in a big room club. Punchy house music made intimate. Lovely stuff.

Make sure you stick around for the second half of the release, when it really gets going. Here are my thoughts from the last time I raved about him, and specifically the last track on the album Be With U.

How it Feels – Riva Starr

Now this is a party track. It has all the elements; you couldn’t ask for a funkier bassline; jammy organ synths; some soulful vocals; and a nice bit of crowd noise to give it a subtle pick-up. If it doesn’t get you stepping then I’m sorry, but not much will.

Bonus track: I can’t give How it Feels much more of a compliment than to say it reminds me of Maceo Plex’s Love Somebody Else. One of my all-time favourites. You can listen to that here. You can and you should.

Push – Gabe Gurnsey

“This is a prime example of a pure temptation. Oh boy, your touch is heaven. This is the kind of feeling I could ride forever. Let’s push, together.”

It’s Gabe Gurnsey’s Push, released Erol Alkan’s Phantasy Sound label. The vocals are from Gabe’s collaborator and girlfriend Tilly Morris.

Uncomplicated electro house with an infectious energy. Rip in.

Let’s Gruv – Jon Gravy

I learnt something new today. Turns out there is a “thriving electronic underground scene” in Vienna. Who knew? Jon Gravy (real name Felix B. Nowak) is a product of that very scene, and we are lucky to have him.

Let’s Gruv was released back in 2020. The stand out track from the release is Golden Hour. A nice deep, pulsating groove picks you up, but what really makes it pop is a complete killer of a piano hook. This is all supplemented by drifting, swirling disco vocals that give the track colour and depth, without ever feeling too busy. It’s a beauty.

I was just going to post about Golden Hour, but then Maintain came on and I was digging that as well. He’s good this fella. Enjoy.

A Little Bit Further – Tourist

I can’t help but visualise the sun setting over the ocean when I listen to Tourist. It always feels like Summer, with the temperature just a tad over 25. A Little Bit Further is another one of those to add to the collection.

I also feel like the track leaves a little bit left on the table for a second drop. I have a sneaking suspicion someone is going to remix the shit out of it and I’ll be here for it when it they do.