No Static Automatic is proud to cap off the year with the electrifying *Cabin Pressure EP* from seasoned producer and sound designer **Luke Sanger**.
Set for release on limited edition vinyl, this four-track weapon is a potent fusion of classic electro rhythms and Sanger’s signature world of bleeps, wobbles, and modulated
chaos.
With a career spanning two decades at the nexus of music and technology, Luke Sanger is a relentless innovator. While his roots are often linked to techno, his artistic output defies easy categorization, constantly exploring the full spectrum of electronic music. On the
*Cabin Pressure EP*, he turns his focus to electro, injecting the genre with his uniquely off- kilter and captivating sound.
The EP is a masterful display of analog synthesis. Sanger crafts simple, infectious basslines and leads, then sets them in motion, allowing them to converse, modulate, and evolve into a complex tapestry of sound. The result is a listening experience that is as intellectually fascinating as it is physically compelling. Over a bedrock of sturdy electro beats, Sanger layers acid basslines with wild envelope modulation, distorted humanoid samples, and an array of wobbly, techy textures designed to bring dancefloors to a state of ecstatic, unstable bliss.
This is a record built for impact. The *Cabin Pressure EP* is not just a collection of tracks; it's a dynamic tool for DJs, guaranteed to become a secret weapon in sets that demand character and forward-thinking energy.
quête:listen
Don’t Trust The Snippets – Play The Full Track Before Buying A Record is a finely tuned four-track compilation from NOREPRESS Records, exploring a broad emotional and rhythmic spectrum — from atmospheric breaks to dub-infused tech house. Each piece invites deep listening, rewarding full attention rather than surface impressions.
A1. Osman Oz & SUBLIMINAL. – Johto opens with a beautifully crafted breaks track — rich in ambient layers and cinematic depth, setting a contemplative tone. A2. Pat Jensenn – Heaven Tapes follows with crisp percussion and hypnotic melodies, shifting the mood into uplifting, forward-driving territory. The young Argentinian producer blends instinct and elegance in equal measure.
On the flip, B1. Genning & Kirill Matveev – Orbiter lifts off with bounce and finesse — tight, articulate, and designed for that moment when the dancefloor begins to bloom. B2. Neptuna, also by Genning & Matveev, closes the record with sensual dub textures and refined detail — balancing movement and stillness in perfect harmony.
Led by visionary Kirill Matveev, with strong contributions from Genning, Pat Jensenn, and the always-excellent Osman Oz & SUBLIMINAL, NRP005 serves as a reminder: the full track always tells the real story.
NOREPRESS is a division of MixCult Records
French producer stuckinwaveforms makes his casa voyager debut with a cohesive album that threads together a fresh take across multiple genres. Each track is crafted with precision, bridging heavy-beat energy and deep listening moments. Tested and approved!
EB-REX kicks off EB003 with atmospheric, driving techno single 'The Core' by Estella Boersma. The label's third release, EB003, expands it's sonic scope and delivers a bright, peak-time techno experience. The release concludes with a delicate IDM cut, leaving the listener suspended between nostalgia and motion. EB-REX, a Berlin-based Techno label founded by Estella Boersma in 2024, stands as a testament to versatility and artistic freedom. Drawing inspiration from the halcyon days of old-school rave and the relentless drive of Techno's present, each release embodies a synthesis of the past and the future.
SPTLP008 - Aural Imbalance - Fractional Spaces LP
Returning for his third solo album on Spatial, Aural Imbalance continues his journey through the cosmos with a breathtaking array of breaks, bass and inimitable ambient wizardry.
A1 - Fading Reality
Kicking off the album we are treated to a blissfully ambient intro akin to a perfect sunrise across a tranquil unfurling landscape - just as we have come to know and love from Aural Imbalance. Long, airy washes of textured pads usher in a fantastically snappy break pattern which brings an alluring energy to proceedings, driving the track along with funnels of tuneful melodies lazily drifting by in the ambience.
A2 - This Time
Jumping right into the breaks DJ-style with a delicious Hot Pants pattern, This Time's central theme utilises a hypnotic simple but effective chime melody that plays a key role throughout the track, alongside fluttering birdsong and a luscious array of samples. The exquisite breakdown which delights with an incredible blend of bass atmospheric synths & pads is both beautiful and poignant.
B1 - Always With You
Introduced by what sounds like footsteps echoing through the darkness, Always With You lives up to its title by surrounding you with a warmth usually reserved for arriving home and nestling by the fire. Driven by delicate but vibrant breakbeats, this track showcases Aural Imbalance's relentless dexterity with ambient soundscapes dancing in perfect harmony with deep 808 bass and old school beats.
B2 - Solarity
Lightly excitable hats and elegantly filtered breaks open Solarity, a deeply evocative track with breakbeats rising through the intro towards a drop with solid analogue kicks and a wonderfully deep and persistent bassline. Sporadic micro melodies cruise the waves of floating synthwork, effects rippling gently in the foreground and background of the mix like playful phosphorescence.
C1 - First Protocol
Up next we see Aural Imbalance crack the amen knuckles with a real treat for old school heads - an ambient, synthy ambient laden with incredibly light spaced-out hats through the flowing waves is soon jolted into life by a satisfyingly crisp amen break, edited and programmed with flair and majestic detail that sits perfectly with the light, often sullen textured soundscape drifting above.
C2 - Crystals
An otherworldly landscape brimming with wonder and intrigue unfolds with Crystals, an atmospheric delight with a twist. The serene opening leads into a terrific old school break which takes center stage, punchy in the mix and edited with a precision as shimmering textures and meditative synthwork are expertly layered around the ever-rolling beats, perfect for any occasion at home or the 160bpm dancefloor.
D1 - Velarious
Continuing his showcase of breaks from across the atmospheric drum & bass spectrum, Aural Imbalance introduces Velarious with a quietly epic ambient flow, with filtered drums creeping in before the drop arrives, breakbeats buoyed by some seriously deep 808 bass and distinct hi hats. Micro melodies intersect and reverberate throughout the track to complete an enduring and eclectic composition.
D2 - South Coast Sunrise
Closing with a good old fashioned love letter to the Hot Pants break, South Coast Sunrise perfectly encapsulates its title with a gorgeous panoramic overlay of ambience, spread over an intensely memorable edit of that classic break - programmed and mixed to remarkable effect and cementing Aural Imbalance's ongoing rise as a master of edits as well as ambience, fully realised for our listening pleasure on Spatial.
SPTLP007 - ASC - Vanishing Point LP
Evolving further with each release, ASC delivers his latest monumental album on Spatial, a varied and memorable journey through stunningly realised fusion of modern and classic atmospheric breakbeats.
A1 - Mystic Street
Setting a murky tone with light cymbals and synthwork flecking the intro, Mystic Street calmly purrs and growls towards a drop of analogue kicks and a sparse, menacing drum pattern to kick off this incredible album. Enveloped by a dense cloud of darkly atmospherics, the track coils with tension, each element rippling through the mix like distant memories as the suitably enigmatic bassline rumbles beneath.
A2 - Convergence
Straight into the beats with a DJ-friendly two step intro, ASC utilises sparse, sci-fi hits and persistent danceable breakbeats with a melodic bassline. As the atmosphere builds, percussive tones punctuate the swirling pads, creating a luscious sense of forward motion with echoing samples and effects combining in the mix to create a dreamlike soundscape perfect for the dancefloor and headphones alike.
B1 - Invisible Borders
No ASC album would be complete without an amen workout, and we certainly have that here as Invisible Borders rushes into view with simmering intent, melodic samples tore from battlegrounds of yesteryear providing a truly epic atmosphere, rippling breakbeat trickery teasing the listener before crushing full contact amens arrive with panache and veracity - twisted across yearning bass with an unflinching fighting spirit.
B2 - Celestial Bodies
Up next a moment of calm as we soak up the charms of the dreamlike Celestial Bodies, a soothing journey of beats, breaks and atmosphere from Spatial's label head. Melodic notes ripple across the mix with old school breaks filtering to and fro, conjuring images of a cosmic journey unfolding, where old school breakbeat rhythms pulse like distant constellations, echoes shimmering in the vast expanse of ASC's versatility.
C1 - Losing Track Of Time
Into an absolute stunner next as ASC unleashes a modern classic which has a wonderfully instant familiarity to it - like it was lifted directly from the golden era of atmospheric drum & bass. The old school breaks have a distinctive feel while a variety of pads teaming with life swirl around above. A myriad of spirited melodies develop and maintain your attention with classic 808 basslines to complete this remarkable composition.
C2 - Slipstream
Switching up the vibe in style, ASC delivers an intense, cosmic intro to Slipstream which builds gradually with whooshing effects and long female vocals before a crisp, crunchy slice of Hot Pants breakbeat heaven tears through the mix, chock-full of excitable edits portrayed in a brilliant clarity. Warm sub bass punctuates the track while a reverberating earworm melody slowly etches itself into your mind.
D1 - Paradigm Shift
A good old fashioned roller up next as Paradigm Shift sees ASC blend a superb 2-step rhythm with a sumptuous smooth bassline - guaranteed to move the dancefloor. Atmospherics take no back seat either as elegant synthwork swirls and washes across the soundscape with subtly used vocal samples adding texture and warmth to an impressively layered mix that maintains its pace right through to an echoing conclusion.
D2 - Transmitter
Sending us back to interstellar space for an inspired mission through vast unexplored star systems, Transmitter sees ASC create a stunningly evocative, ethereal collage of atmospherics with sonar-like beeps punctuating and persisting throughout. Driving the track along are the superbly programmed drums, filtered and layered with twisted, distorted vocal samples to complete this exhilarating album in pure Spatial style.
Finally out is this eagerly-awaited release of SUNANDBASS Recordings, Hits Me In Waves EP by Mark System. Friends and close members of the SAB family know it's been brewing for the last decade, appearing in bits in aftermovies and we are beyond excited to now share it with the world.
'Hits Me In Waves' unveils three currents at once, the surging pull of inspiration, the sweep of new love, and the beautiful embrace of La Cinta's waters, all washing over in unison. Thus, each track of the EP explores a wide range of emotions and moods, expressed in multiple styles within drum & bass; the lead single 'On An Island', sets the tone with unmatched sound design, rich musical elements, and raw, uncompromising production. Next comes 'Point Of Reference', built for the dancefloor and eternally young in its refined appeal. 'Celebration' follows, a powerful track that ties the listening journey together, pairing heavy low-end weight with slick musicality to keep it both melodic and full of energy. 'Where's The Dog' stands out for its playability and tough bass synthesis, making it the hardest-hitting cut on the record. Closing the EP is the beautiful and introspective 'Started At The End', a deep dive into Mark's musical mind, offering a classic, emotive finale.
Hits Me In Waves is more than just a collection of tracks, it's a reflection of Mark's long-standing relationship with SUNANDBASS and our shared vision for music that speaks to the soul and stands the test of time. Spanning from Ibiza, this release embodies the SAB spirit: pushing the boundaries of drum & bass while fostering connection through rhythm, movement, and community.
With this new album, s8jfou resolutely turns toward the club scene and dancefloors, while preserving his unique signature: sharp technique, a subtle and playful approach combined with formidable efficiency. He also infuses a touch of nostalgia, giving the whole work a certain depth.
This is yet another demonstration of his ability to evolve while staying true to what makes him a singular and essential figure in the electronic music scene. Drawing inspiration from memory, s8jfou uses it as the guiding thread of this album, aiming to create a pictorial and visual atmosphere, punctuated by shifts in mood, as if the listener could 'zap' through their memories and make this soundtrack their own.
Through this approach, the artist seeks to evoke an intimate connection, allowing each listener to explore their own memories.
The album will be available in a limited edition, accompanied by a MIDI controller designed and crafted by s8jfou.
2025 Repress
Eric Cloutier launched Palinoia three years ago with an EP from himself, and now he's back on his own imprint for the first solo production since then. His new EP combines the three sounds he's know for - "Apeirophobia" is a heady roller that takes a solid twist halfway through, "Eleutheromania" is a dubby jam that was inspired by listening to (and owning) a LOT of Sterac / Steve Rachmad records, and, rounding it out, "Madrugada" is a deep and etherial house groove that lends itself more towards my monthly DOWN here in Berlin than the jacking beats most people equate my sound with.
Pager Records returns with catalog number sixteen, dropping another essential slab of wax: The Aquatic Genie — a 5-track journey that blends house, disco, funk and a wink of humor — this time from Aladdin, a French DJ and Producer based in Lyon, coming in HOT with his unique approach to house music, influenced by jazz, funk and reggae. Drawing from these influences his sound feels fresh yet rooted in the DNA of Pager’s signature aesthetic.
Intro (Flying Carpet Airlines) – hazy lift-off joint, saturated samples and dubbed-out FX pulling you into a low-slung groove. Cosmic Lounge Energy…
Forever – breaky house with elastic low-end and vocoder shimmer that sneaks into your head. Pure sunrise material…
You Smell Like Fish – house on a g-funk trip! Funk-driven bass, warm keys, and talkbox heat bringing a modern boogie twist — guaranteed eyebrow-raiser.
Doyoulike2dance – straight-up party trigger with a smile. Funk-loaded drums and a hook that says it all. Pure body music.
Rock The House – stripped-down, Detroit-tinged funk workout to shut it down raw and sexy…
Playful and funky — The Aquatic Genie keeps one foot in the house nation and taps the other into the disco world. Full of character, bounce, and club weight — another Sureshot from Pager for both DJs and Listeners <3
Limited Vinyl Pressing. Don’t sleep on it.
- A1: Dj Licious - In My Heart
- A2: Dj Licious & Alex Germys Feat. Alex Lucas - Magic With You
- A3: Dj Licious - One More Day
- A4: Dj Licious - Voices
- A5: Dj Licious - Beautiful Liar
- A6: Dj Licious & Sem - Always Been You
- B1: Dj Licious - Ibiza Sky
- B2: Dj Licious - Around You
- B3: Dj Licious - House On Fire
- B4: Dj Licious X Pollyanna - Million Moons
- B5: Dj Licious Feat. Armen Paul - Hope
From commanding festival mainstages to shaping the Belgian house scene with his SHOMI brand, DJ Licious has consistently delivered music that connects beyond borders. With his debut album "So Far", he brings together the highlights of his career "so far", while setting the stage for "what's next" - a sonic story of passion, persistence, and the universal power of dance music.
A Journey Through Hit Records and New Horizons
"So Far" gathers DJ Licious's biggest anthems to date, including his massive hit "Magic With You", for which he received a golden record and spent over 30 weeks in the Ultratop 50. The album also features Top 10 hits like "Hope" (with Armen Paul) (Platinum) and "Million Moons" (Gold), alongside fan favorites such as "Ibiza Sky", "Beautiful Liar", "Voices", and his latest single "One More Day."
In addition to these beloved tracks, "So Far" includes two brand-new, unreleased songs, offering listeners a glimpse into the next chapter of DJ Licious's musical journey - a seamless blend of feel-good grooves, melodic energy, and emotional depth.
"'So Far' is a reflection of everything I've experienced on this journey - the highs, the love, the dancefloors, and the people I've met along the way. It's a thank-you to everyone who's been part of it," says DJ Licious.
MOb return this November with their second album on Veego Records, continuing the adventurous journey they began with their 2023 debut MOb 1. Hailed by the press as one of the boldest and freshest statements in the Greek scene, their first record moved seamlessly between jazz, punk, and electronic forms, creating a sound often described as “an entire orchestra played by just three musicians.”
On their new release, Marios Valinakis (saxophone, effects, synthesizers), Alexandros Delis (bass, double bass), and Panagiotis Kostopoulos (drums) construct an even more intricate and ambitious sonic universe. The compositions range from the explosive energy of “Tipping Point” and the dark atmospheres of “Utu and Sin”, to the radical reimagining of Wayne Shorter’s “Fall” and the polyphonic outburst of “The Listener”, featuring the Kos Choir.
Guest appearances further expand the palette: Phillip “Felipe MC” Manev lends his voice to “Tipping Point” and “Encounters”, while Angelos Polychronou enriches “Encounters” and “The Listener” with his percussions.
The album was produced and recorded by MOb themselves, with Bruno Ellingham handling mixing and mastering for most tracks, while “Utu and Sin” was mixed by Malcolm Catto at the Quatermass Sound Lab. The cover artwork is designed by Apostolos Mitrelis, and the back cover features a photograph by Maciej Moskwa.
If MOb 1 revealed a band capable of fusing free improvisation with rhythm-driven “bangers” that reached audiences beyond Greece, the new album confirms their evolution: more intense, more diverse, and more imaginative. With one foot rooted in tradition and the other firmly in the present, MOb deliver a work that breaks boundaries and builds bridges across genres and audiences, solidifying their reputation as one of the most exciting groups in today’s Greek music scene.
MOb return this November with their second album on Veego Records, continuing the adventurous journey they began with their 2023 debut MOb 1. Hailed by the press as one of the boldest and freshest statements in the Greek scene, their first record moved seamlessly between jazz, punk, and electronic forms, creating a sound often described as “an entire orchestra played by just three musicians.”
On their new release, Marios Valinakis (saxophone, effects, synthesizers), Alexandros Delis (bass, double bass), and Panagiotis Kostopoulos (drums) construct an even more intricate and ambitious sonic universe. The compositions range from the explosive energy of “Tipping Point” and the dark atmospheres of “Utu and Sin”, to the radical reimagining of Wayne Shorter’s “Fall” and the polyphonic outburst of “The Listener”, featuring the Kos Choir.
Guest appearances further expand the palette: Phillip “Felipe MC” Manev lends his voice to “Tipping Point” and “Encounters”, while Angelos Polychronou enriches “Encounters” and “The Listener” with his percussions.
The album was produced and recorded by MOb themselves, with Bruno Ellingham handling mixing and mastering for most tracks, while “Utu and Sin” was mixed by Malcolm Catto at the Quatermass Sound Lab. The cover artwork is designed by Apostolos Mitrelis, and the back cover features a photograph by Maciej Moskwa.
If MOb 1 revealed a band capable of fusing free improvisation with rhythm-driven “bangers” that reached audiences beyond Greece, the new album confirms their evolution: more intense, more diverse, and more imaginative. With one foot rooted in tradition and the other firmly in the present, MOb deliver a work that breaks boundaries and builds bridges across genres and audiences, solidifying their reputation as one of the most exciting groups in today’s Greek music scene.
We are thrilled to present AA005, the latest EP from Jerome.c, set to release in 2025. This captivating collection of four tracks captures the essence of minimalism, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in a rich landscape of nuanced textures and infectious dancefloor rhythms.
Ambroos De Schepper and Pepijn Gyssels became roommates when PiP moved to Brussels in 2021. Both paid close attention to each other’s musical approach and interests. One year later, Ambroos moved out. When he swung by to pick up some boxes, they decided to record something for the fun of it. Between May '23 and November '24 they continued experimenting with textures and improvisations. This collaboration has become the deepening of a friendship and a way to maintain it at the same time.
PiP: “We would have coffee or the occasional beer and everything we recorded came very organically. Ambroos would just bring his saxophone, a clarinet, some FX pedals or a weird flute. Whatever he felt like on that particular day. A few hours later he would usually be on his way again, leaving me with the recordings. I could treat them as I pleased.”
Ambroos: “I liked the idea of working with someone focussing on the physical side of music. Not so much on chords and tonality, but on texture and atmosphere. This gave me a framework with less concrete references, using words like “dark” or “busy”. I could improvise freely and we would try and catch a particular moment."
“l’Esprit de l’Escalier” is meant to be a musical meditation, opening up a continuous and detailed sound palette, aimed for the right mental state to listen with. Ambroos came up with the melody in COVID times and later in PiP’s studio, they recorded it on clarinet.
“Sans Loup” is the first jam the duo did together, after Ambroos and Lou moved out of the apartment they shared. Lou Wéry eventually found her way back to the album, as she can be heard playing the wing piano in this track.
PiP: “We recorded in the apartment we used to rent together. Since the title track and the entire album are named after Lou being absent in this dynamic, it seemed only natural to invite her in a later stage.”
“Spring Whistle” was an attempt to embed Ambroos’ musicality in dreamy textures and “Bring Back Bones” was built around an endlessly evolving krakeb recording that PiP took home from on a trip to Morocco. Both tracks are not aimed to end or evolve drastically, they just make the clock tick slower.
To conclude this release, “Velours de Tendre” is built out of a deconstructed groove and a field recording of the “Ronde van Vlaanderen”, a small reference to the countryside where PiP grew up. The reverberating chords you hear are the echoes Tijn Driessen squeezed out of an old harmonium, in a staircase of De Grote Post in Ostend.
PiP: “During a residency in De Grote Post we recorded in a staircase with a spaced pair of omni microphones. And you can take ‘spaced’ quite serious; one was positioned 5 stories higher and the other 3 stories lower.”
Sans Loup is the first vinyl to release on PiP’s label. They look alike, but none will be identical. The cover is screen printed in various combinations + a risograph insert. A highly personalized object.
credits
Released on Zitstill Records
Recorded in Brussels, Horebeke, Morocco and elsewhere, between September 2021 - November 2024
Music, mixing and production by Pepijn Gyssels
Saxophone, flute and clarinet by Ambroos De Schepper
Grand piano on “Sans Loup” by Lou Wéry
Harmonium on “Velours de Tendre” by Tijn Driessen
Mastering and lacquer cut by Anne Taegert at Dubplates & Mastering
Pressing by Objects Manufacturing
Layout and graphic design by Liselotte Van Daele & Otis Verhoeve
Photography by Willem Mevis
Special thanks to: Stijn Cools, Victor De Greef, De Grote Post
Shurale continues its deep exploration of abstract rhythm and texture with Numina by o.utlier. Four pieces that move between drones, breaks and spacious techno, unfolding slowly and deliberately.
It’s music that feels weightless and intense at the same time, crafted for deep listening and late moments when time starts to dissolve.
Lost Gospel Gem - Exitiment "Rap For Jesus" by Columbus Native Kenneth Jordan Rediscovered Nearly 40 Years Later
Columbus, GA — In the late 1980s, Columbus native Kenneth Jordan was such a powerhouse on the local music scene that talent shows had to rewrite their rules. His voice was so captivating (and his wins so frequent) that some claimed the competitions were rigged.
Jordan, deeply rooted in the city's thriving R&B circuit, eventually turned his creative energy toward faith-based music. Teaming up with several local musicians, he recorded "Excitement (Rap For Jesus)", a gospel-infused rap track that aimed to connect with a younger audience enthralled by the sound of hip-hop. His goal was simple: to give youth something uplifting to rap about and listen to.
In 1985, following a personal health scare and a period of reflection, Jordan transitioned from R&B to gospel music. "I took it as a sign from above that it was time to make a change," he later shared. Though his lyrics found new purpose, his signature soulful style remained unchanged.
Fast forward to December 2022 in Little Rock, Arkansas, where record collector and producer Brian Sears stumbled upon a well-loved copy of "Excitement (Rap For Jesus)" while purchasing over a thousand vinyl records from the trunk of an SUV in a Lowe's parking lot. Struck by the track's energy and message, Sears went into "detective mode" to uncover the story behind the voice—and the man—on the record.
Today, Kenneth Jordan continues to share his gift with his community, leading spirited performances every Sunday at his local church in Columbus. Nearly four decades later, his music and message still resonate with the same joy and conviction that first made him a hometown legend.
First Contact features CROÍ, Lukey, KAIR, Sahm, and HVSN. Our first release is a compilation of tracks that we’ve been collecting and to seize all the styles and genres which we will deal with in the future.
‘First Contact’ is the first song of the VA, opening with an invitation with a combination of a nostalgic ambience followed by the drums that go along with the vocals pointing to the start for our journey. In Irish, the word "CROÍ" (pronounced KREE) means "heart". ‘Target Lock’ from Lukey, is a track that will definitely surprise you. This song is meant to push you back to the dance floor with a feeling which you don’t get very often from listening to these kinds of songs. Everything is cool with ‘Target Lock’, drums, nice trippy vibes, and how the bass fits there… You should be blown away by this song. In a real old school style! Lukey has previously caught the eye of industry labels like Hot Creations, also his release on Carpet & Snares Records, Into The Wizard's Sleeve, The Void Project was hammered by some of the great DJ’s in the world.
KAIR introduces himself to us in his own way with ‘Let's Get it!’ Because this bomb won’t fail to make you dance and feel good! It’s pure house and joyful music that makes you dance and get lost within the music. Also, ‘Let's Get it!’ is just a preview of the upcoming EP. ‘Rainbown’ is a track which shows us that Sahm knows how to come out with a brilliant house track. A groovy old school house with heavy percussion, comes from a young talented producer from Brazil! This will be the track that you’ll be playing years from now on. And ‘Bust This’, you will hear among the bass, the claps and drums, a high energy that will make you move your body. HVSN presents his vision of how to bring the right emotions of a dance floor full of energy and the connection between the bass, synth, drums and melody is back!
Enjoy, This Is Real Talks Records.
VA – First Contact RTR001 incl CROÍ, Lukey, KAIR, Sahm, HVSN
From out of the dark, sparks of feedback birdsong signal a return to the singular sonic environments of Rafael Toral"s sound-world. A year after Spectral Evolution, his acclaimed album of electric guitar conceptions, comes the companion work Traveling Light. Sharpening his focus around a set of jazz standards, his move from abstract form to solid song elicits glints from beyond time and space, crafting a unique listening lens for deep listeners. In the early years of his practice, Toral used the guitar as a generator to create discreet texture and droning tones. Later, he abandoned the guitar entirely, focusing on self-made electronics to render his music with a post-free jazz perspective. For the music of Spectral Evolution and Traveling Light, Toral has combined his methodologies: radically expanding the space within their harmonies with his self-made machines, while engaging directly with his instrument and the chords of the material. In addition to Toral"s proxy orchestra of guitars, sine wave, feedback and bass guitar, Traveling Light features the sounds of clarinetist José Bruno Parrinha, tenor saxophonist Rodrigo Amado, flügelhorn player Yaw Tembe, flautist Clara Saleiro, who each guest on one song. In every contour of Traveling Light"s path - arrangement, improvisation and production - the spring of the old pours through the new in an unstoppable flow. The result is a listening experience of these standards that remains "in the tradition", even as the elongated harmonies seem to alter time such that, as Toral notes, "the chords become events on their own."




















