There was a long time I considered Raymond Richards the ultimate secret weapon. There were sounds he could make that other people just couldn’t. Pure, whole, yet complex sounds. The pedal steel is an extremely niche instrument outside of its Country confines, but its sheer and transcendent depth has never failed to floor me. Raymond’s ear for implementing the steel into literally 'anything' has always been uncanny. After decades of being savvy to his work ethic, multi-faceted studio skills and overall sense of musical honesty, it became a priority for me to channel some of this into narratives through the ESP Institute and get his stories told. Without further recounting the history and trajectory of our musical relationship (see the press release for 2020’s critically-acclaimed album 'The Lost Art Of Wandering'), I can whole-heartedly confirm this sophomore release, 'Sand Paintings', opens an even wider door into Raymond’s visceral, contemplative world. The cast of players has elaborated to include Calexico’s John Convertino on drums and percussion, a bevy of eccentric stringed instruments and even a hint of brass to collectively stratify context for the pedal steel. Through diversifying the timbral palette, we invite an increased soundstage acuity but also reveal untapped wells of emotion for the listener, perhaps even testing cultural literacies. One foot remains in our established ambient realm, while the other steps toward grand cinematic gestures, and despite the dense, insurmountable emotion in these songs, there is a stoic singularity, like a lonesome cowboy pulling up his boot straps to endure another day. 'Badwater Basin' opens with courage, an enormous chord evoking Raymond’s image of “hard dawn”, but in navigating through the dramatic depictions of 'Monument Valley', 'Saguaro' and 'Deer On Hwy 80', we grapple with a cloaked vulnerability—weathered by the elements, beaten down and alone, yet still madly in love with the world.  —Lovefingers

[ESP081] Sand Paintings - SNIPPETS

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A2 - Rattlesnake Pass - SNIPPET

deep house, tech house, techno, minimal, chill and everything in between. mix often, mix with love.
Contact: niichavosounds@gmail.com

contact  : ahmad.quatri@gmail.com

Konalgad is a new project by Syrian artist Ahmad Qatramiz, currently based in Paris. Formerly active under the name Quatri, Ahmad has decided to embark on an adventure combining sonic and scientific research, with the aim of pushing the boundaries of the psyche.

Coming from Arabic ( كون الغد ), Konalgad can be translated in different ways: “the universe of tomorrow” or “to become the person of tomorrow". This name was chosen to encourage the artist in his quest for new sensations and experimentation. It can take on an optimistic and utopian dimension of an imagined future, or a pessimistic and dystopian one, reflecting a world increasingly consumed by wars and social and human inequalities.

For now, navigating between ambient, half-time dream-step, dubbed broken techno, and minimalist trance, the Konalgad project pays special attention to vibrating low frequencies, memories of parties, and the activation of the senses through a constructive, captivating, yet light and floating ascent.

Welcome to the ESP Institute. Please remove your shoes at the door. Thank you.