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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"Back from a lil zzzzz break from the DJ biz! 🥴 V special 2 hour VIP extended wine-drinking soundtrack megamix ft. lots of latin/euro downtempo, romantic hiphopcito, good feelin' house, mp3 kwaito, some forthcoming trax from some dear homies n so much more…🎷 hope u dig it! Besitos desde del df amixes precioses" - @soosisoos

B.P.T. Radio 086: Soos

All 6 hours of Dave Harvey, Chez de Milo and Ellie Stokes b2b2b at the helm of The Love Inn as part of the Love International 10 year club tour

Love International 10 Years @ The Love Inn, Bristol

https://www.instagram.com/justinstrauss1


JUSTIN STRAUSS @ The Lot Radio 06-05-2025

Guided by curiosity and a love for musical discovery, Balearic Banana open up their bags of high grade for this edition. Known for their fine taste and genre-blurring sets, Berlin based duo weave worldly treats around a strong Brazilian thread for this mix. The blend reflects their open-eared approach, where anything goes as long as it fits the feeling. Perfectly suited for a warm summer night, this one invites you to kick back and float off into the haze.

@balearicbanana

LIFE CLASSICS 76 BALEARIC BANANA

Milan duo Eternal Love dig in their hip-hop crates and get slinky on a sun-kissed session that's perfect for Summer.

Tracklist:
Celetia - Let Love Be
Lucky G featuring G-Mel - Welcome to the ghetto
Willie Max - Bona Fide
Silent Poets - Someday (Remixed By Mighty Bop)
Authentik Soul- BeingNluv
Jamma Dee - Every Morning
Playa Hamm - Hit Again
Get Low Playaz - Blowin’ Up
Gyrl - Get Your Groove On (Radio Groove No Rap)
Realitie feat Valisha - How Will I Make It
Di'mond - Summer Holiday (Big lik klub mix)
Dominator - Love You
Ashanti Munir - So Smooth
The Bottom Line - Tell Me It's Not Too Late
Sara S - True Love


GuduMix 054: Eternal Love

If you’ve been to Phonica in the past 15+ years, you likely know Nick Williams—an integral figure behind the counter, sharing his deep and eclectic musical taste with everyone from global DJs to underground newcomers. As founder of Meda Fury Records, he’s championed soulful, leftfield sounds, discovering artists like DJ Seinfeld along the way. A seasoned DJ himself, Nick has played iconic clubs like Fabric and Corsica, known for genre-defying sets that span ambient, house, techno, post-punk, jungle, and beyond. His latest mix reflects this wide scope—layered, emotional, and full of unexpected gems.

Phonica Friends & Family Mix Series 24: Nick Williams

"all good things come to an end but the memories live on."

this is the live recording of my set at the final edition of @velvetfestival in june 2025. I loved this intimate festival on the beautiful island of krk, croatia. playing freely, house, disco, gospel with a heart warming message.

suze ijó @ velvet fest 2025

Trushmix 243 presents Soos, out Mexico City! The Sunday Sunday resident DJ steps to make a two and two minutes mix. A session filled with balearic, street soul and house. 
Concentration on the mid late eighties to early nineties. A great summer breeze selection to enjoy on the beach at while home, or on a way to a late night of joy!

As always music from the top!

Enjoy!



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ESP Institute

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