Vinyl/CD: https://www.bbemusic.com/downloads/eventual-reality/
Other formats / stores: https://bbemusic.lnk.to/EventualReality
Born in a remote log cabin deep in the Scottish Highlands, Eventual Reality, the debut album from The James L’Estraunge Orchestra melds jazz and electronic music sensibilities with a huge helping of heart and soul. In 2014 seasoned producer and musician Ricky Reid and his partner retreated from the city to embark upon a new life, in his own words “away from the constant, incoherent noise of the world”. As he set up his studio, the clean air and spectacular surroundings began to provoke musical inspiration like never before. Then, like a scene from ‘Field Of Dreams’, a series of talented musicians from his former life visited the cabin for a series of late night jamming and recording sessions, leaving behind them hidden treasures to be discovered and lovingly pieced together by Ricky over the following months. With nostalgia so much a part of the album’s creation, The James L’Estraunge Orchestra can’t help but appear somewhat spectral; after all they are truly the band that never was.

Making up one half of the Soul Renegades alongside Craig Smith, as well as contributing keys and vocals to both 6th Borough Project LPs, Ricky Reid was a lynchpin of the Edinburgh scene for a little over two decades before escaping to the wilderness. Releases on Restless Soul, Local Talk, Rainy City Music among others saw him truly hone his craft, but the distractions of day to day urban living prevented him from elevating his craft to the next level. Now with no TV or wi-fi and mostly trees to talk to, Ricky has been able to freely explore and spread his wings; as he puts it: “I’ve become a conduit for something different than I’ve ever experienced before.”

Roaming from dramatic, cinematic expanses to intimate and fragile places, ‘Eventual Reality’ is the audible journal of a musician making sense of things, reconciling the past and present from a place of tranquility. From the autobiographical reverie of ‘See You Tonight’, which explores the loss of youth, to the vibrant Melbourne street sounds that introduce powerful and empowering first single ‘Closer’, the album shimmers with a palpable sense of life throughout. “My process is completely based on inspiration in the moment. Sometimes the inspiration for a track comes in the middle of the night, like ‘The Call’, which was written after a local car accident ended in tragedy for a young girl visiting the area. She was trapped underwater after driving off the road, which shocked the village and provoked this emotive, free form track.” It’s just as easy to imagine a poignant story for each piece of music contained in ‘Eventual Reality’ as it is to place yourself in that lonely cabin, comfortably cocooned in warm and deeply touching sounds.

The James L'Estraunge Orchestra - Eventual Reality

The Remedy Project is the imprint of London-based tastemaker Melvo Baptiste. Throughout Melvo’s decade in broadcasting and A&R he has shared his musical DNA of soul, rare groove, funk, disco and house with enthusiasts around the world, while making connections with contemporary artists on the peripheries of these genres in his quest to become the next indie champion. 

The Remedy Project is dedicated to the development of those young, forward-thinking, genre-bending and ambitious musicians. The label’s founding principles are to offer a home and a platform to these like-minded artists.

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Founded in 1996 by Peter Adarkwah, Barely Breaking Even (BBE Music) started life as a London club night, taking its name from the eponymous Disco record by the Universal Robot Band.

The label grew from the vibrant early 90's club scene with its first release, Stop & Listen compiled by Dr Bob Jones in 1996, opening the door to iconic series' such as All Back To Mine & Late Nite Tales.

A tonne of releases followed, ranging from Disco to Funk, Jazz to House. In the year 2000, the label celebrated Masters at Work's 10th Anniversary with a mighty box set that featured near 80 tracks.

A year later BBE Music spawned the Beat Generation Series of artist albums, notably introducing J Dilla (Welcome 2 Detroit) & a young Will.I.Am's first solo outing, alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff, Madlib & DJ Spinna, all of whom contributed to this seminal set of long players.

A quarter of a century and well over 500 titles later, having worked with Mark Ronson, Roy Ayers, Questlove, Hugh Masekela, DJ Premier, Dimitri from Paris, Joey Negro, Kon, RZA, Laurent Garnier, Black Coffee, DJ Shadow, David Rodigan and John Morales among many others, BBE Music looks to the future, celebrating its rich heritage while continuing to release a bounty of fresh titles.

The label’s most recent projects include an expansive reissue series from pioneering Nigerian label Tabansi, new imprint ‘Batakari’ in association with Boddhi Satva and the critically acclaimed ‘J Jazz’ Japanese Jazz multi-album project, not to mention the recent landmark 500th label release: a brand new version of 'Barely Breaking Even', featuring Leroy Burgess, Patrick Adams and Louie Vega.

In 2021 BBE Music is celebrating its 25th anniversary. To mark this milestone, the label is offering up some special projects, from the 20th Anniversary edition of J Dilla’s ‘Welcome 2 Detroit’, through David Bowie tribute album ‘Modern Love’, to a special new ‘Worldwide’ compilation from old friend Gilles Peterson. BBE Music will also be looking to the future with more exciting original artist projects, plus merch collaborations events and more...

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