We couldn’t recommend Mark Barrott any higher, I actually think the B-side is better than the A-side, well its less PBS Nova in my mind. B2 Der Stern, Der Nie Vergeht really swept me off my feet, soo genuine!
A1 Right 4 Me
A2 The Mysterious Island Of Dr Nimm
B1 Cirrus & Cumulus
B2 Der Stern, Der Nie Vergeht
Two years ago, as his first summer in Ibiza beckoned, Mark Barrott was heading off to bed one night when he had an idea for a track. That was the first track to feature the infamous Uruguayan Botanist Dr Nimm and spawned what ultimately became the first Sketches from an Island EP.
Although International Feel are known for sometimes been a little mysterious and contrarian, that first EP was only a 300 press as Barrott didn’t think that many people would be into what he called ‘slow, weird music’…it turned out he was wrong, it sold out on the day of release and that coming winter, he hunkered down to work on what became last years acclaimed ‘Sketches from an Island’ LP, lauded by everyone from Terje to Trevor Jackson, it’s evocative, melody driven atmospherics and beautiful birds of paradise artwork has taken on a life of it’s own.
He briefly broke cover again last winter with those Tuff City Kids for the Balearic classic ‘Balanzat’ and again in April this year, with the ultra deep ‘Bush Society’, but as soon as the first sunset of the year forms on the horizon, Barrott’s thoughts always go back to his beloved Sketches project and he now returns with four new tracks for EP 3, again with beautiful artwork from Stevie Anderson.
‘Right 4 me’ feels like the natural successor to the sunshine in a bottle vibe of ‘Baby Come Home’ and he also revisits the bizarre world of Dr Nimm (this time via his Mysterious Island ). The polyrhythm’s of ‘Cirrus & Culumus’ trace his love of Ghanan Music & Steve Reich and closing track ‘der Stern, der nie vergeht’ is reminiscent of every beautiful sunset you’ve never seen, blended with the delicate sounds of Roedelius and recontextualized for his Sketches world.
Although now firmly entrenched in his Ibizan compound, this summer will see Barrott break cover to take up a residency at Harvey’s Mercury Rising night at Pikes and also provide sunrise sounds at this years final Garden Festival, before decamping back to Ibiza to start work on the second Sketches from an Island LP.
Early ending to the week hopefully for most of you in the States, had to drop 2 easy ones on you. First one is a remix from Fort Romeau, perfect to ramp up the dance floor for a deep house sort of night while the other is from a ISO50 regular Dolphins Into The Future who delivers the best coastal field recordings you’ll ever find on cassette.
This is the 2nd of 3 singles from the Heathered Pearls album. The Fader had the exclusive for most of the day but I finally got it up here. The song features my good friend Thomas Mullarney III aka Outerbridge aka 1/2 of Beacon.
It’s not often that you can pre-order a record online and, while you’re at it, add the sculpture that’s photographed on the album cover to your cart as well. To Heathered Pearls, also known as the Polish-born and Brooklyn-based artist Jakub Alexander, it’s all part of his obsession with texture on his new release, Body Complex. Today we’re premiering “Warm Air Estate,” a gracefully unfurling techno cut featuring wispy, Rhye-esque vocals courtesy of Outerbridge from the electronic and R&B duo, Beacon.
“Warm Air Estate,” which Alexander calls “the misfit on the album,” is true to its name in warmth and beat-driven resplendence. “In the early stages I had it paired up with a song that didn’t make the album that my friend Tycho was going to play on,” Alexander told The FADER, “When I listen to ‘Warm Air Estate,’ I think more about the early stages of it; it only had this gliding emotional feel to it which I loved, but it was missing something. [Outerbridge] delivered this game-changing angle to it. I was going to go with a Detroit ambient techno with strings route but it ended up being this other animal that really made it a special one for me.” Ghostly International will release Body Complex on August 7th (pre-order it here).
What an edit from John Talabot, not surprised but i’m stunned it hasn’t gotten more love, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
When I’m on tour traveling I like to do edits. While waiting in airports, cars, vans, trains, customs, hotels, soundchecks I do them. This is one of my favorites.
Been digging through a lot of the Phonica Records catalog since the staff has such a great ear over there. One of the best finds besides the upcoming Moire 12″ was this Art Crime EP, its the right amount of melody before a dance track loses its underground appeal.
Art Crime follows up 2014’s exceptional ‘Never Look Back’ 12” on WT with the ‘Obsession EP’ on Phonica!
Russia’s Art Crime seemingly came out of nowhere with his first record and it blew us all away at Phonica. Lead track ‘Release’ was pure nineties house nostalgia, a huge reverbed piano over skipping drums that became an instant Phonica classic. We just couldn’t get it out of our heads!
Needless to say we reached out to Art Crime instantly, hoping to lure another 12” of material from him and with the ‘Obsession EP’ we are blown away with the results. Art Crime has delivered another anthemic record, four tracks of melancholic house music, sounding both of the past and future.
The title track ‘Obsession’ is another massive piano laden House beauty, permeated with shim- mering synth stabs. Up next is ‘Show Interest’, with its almost-oriental synth melody glowing over a cold arpeggiated electro pulse. On the flip, ‘Eye Contact’s glacial pads and piano are followed by ‘Rise Fall Run’, the most restrained track of the set, an etheral journey through the clouds.
As with his first 12”, Art Crime is behind the front cover artwork, with the reverse based on Jack Featherstone’s layout for our previous release.
Lakker are an Irish duo who make what they call ‘weirdno.’ It’s hard to put a finger on the multifarious sounds they combine into their music, but their latest album, Tundra, released late May via R & S Records, is a masterpiece of sophistication and complexity. ‘Milch’ is a brilliantly dark beat-driven bass and choral cut from the album, and has been accompanied by two remixes by Acid Mondays and Lahun. If you’re looking to hype up for your Friday night, the Acid Mondays mix might just do the trick. There’s a reason why Lakker have been receiving a lot of attention recently.
Post by: Elaby Mackenzie.
I am a music blogger/enthusiast from Cape Town, South Africa.
Co-founder of Bluishvoid and contributor at Platform Magazine.
Stephen Bruner is back to slap those heart strings…sorry I had to say it, too much love and funk. My only issue is that the funk sits too far back in the mix, soo many flares of beauty sit quiet in the mix, especially the horn part in the outro. I’m only complaining because i’m super into diamonds in the rough that aren’t getting enough exposure.
THANK YOU BONNAROO!!! Can’t thank you enough for such a wonderful first experience there. Hope to make it back one day, see you all around. Above is footage of almost the whole live show.
