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

Buy from ESP

A3 - Monument Valley - SNIPPET

Bordeaux
Iboat Resident
Other mix on Mixcloud 


Upcoming  
15/09 - Marco Polo Bdx /no ny & Alpine
02/10 - Iboat Ten Years / Palms Trax & Voilaaaa Sound System 
12/11 - Iboat Club / MliR
20/11 - Poisson Rouge/ Alpine & no ny

Music collection for inspiration and mood. listen to whatever fits, no order.

I like to listen various genres of music (techno, house (deep, tech, progressive), trance (uplifting & psy), ambient, etc) So you may wouldn't like all of the my reposts in your stream, especialy if you like to listen some specific music style

EU Bookings: wouter@indexmutual.agency

2025:

05.01.2025 - Brukxt / Kyiv (UA)
26.01.2025 - Brukxt / Kyiv (UA)
01.02.2025 - Rejoiced x Brukxt / Kyiv (UA) 
29.03.2025 - Keller / Kyiv (UA) 
13.04.2025 - HUM x Community Cafe / Kyiv (UA) 
18.04.2025 - Brukxt / Kyiv (UA)
27.04.2025 - Rejoiced x Brukxt / Kyiv (UA) 
24.05.2025 - Vsi Svoi D12 / Kyiv (UA)
24.05.2025 - Laboratorium Festival / Kyiv (UA)
30.05.2025 - СПЛАВ Brukxt Festival / Kyiv (UA)
01.06.2025 - Oklyk Festival / Kyiv (UA)
06.06.2025 - HVLV / Kyiv (UA)
05.07.2025 - Keller / Kyiv (UA)
13.07.2025 - Kultura Zvuku / Kyiv (UA)
27.07.2025 - Ickpa Festival / Kyiv (UA)
03.08.2025 - Brukxt / Kyiv (UA)
10.08.2025 - Veselka invites Gegen / Kyiv (UA)
16.08.2025 - Iriy Frequencies x 20ft Radio x Community Cafe / Kyiv (UA)
23.08.2025 - Brave! Factory Festival / Kyiv (UA) 
30.08.2025 - Fusion Jams / Kyiv (UA)
30.08.2025 - Observers Experience x Brukxt / Kyiv (UA) 
06.09.2025 - Rejoiced x Brukxt / Kyiv (UA) 
19.09.2025 - Kultura Zvuku x HVLV / Kyiv (UA)
26.09.2025 - Iriy Records x Community Cafe / Kyiv (UA)
24.10.2025 - TBA
08.11.2025 - Gran / Kyiv (UA)

Livity Sound / Opal Tapes / Hypercolour 
Branch Points / Banoffee Pies / Holding Hands

Tunes, Questions, Letters:

monotronique1@gmail.com

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