It’s some four years since the release of Bison’s acclaimed debut single, “Way To LA”, the result of a series of productive
studio sessions between Paul ‘Mudd’ Murphy, longtime collaborator Ben Smith, krautrock legend Holgar Czukay and
vocalist Ursula Major. Since then, Murphy and Smith have made a number of return trips to Can’s Innerspace Studio in
Cologne, where Czukay famously conjures his out-there musical magic.

The result is ‘Travellers’, the quartet’s long-promised debut album. It is, by anyone’s standards, a deliciously dubby and
intergalactic concoction; a fearlessly atmospheric blend of krautrock and dub disco-inspired grooves, delay-laden horns,
quirky percussion, stargazing electronics and eyes-wide-shut vocals. The dub influence is particularly notable given
Bison’s love of “versioning” tracks. Three of the tracks - “Way To LA”, “New Moon Boy”, and “Familiar Stranger” (the
latter two mixed by Conrad Idjut, who also turns the album’s title track into a clandestine, French-horn-laden late night
masterpiece) - appear in “Day” and “Night” versions. Meanwhile, previous single “Mandy” - a murky spaced-out stroll
though the collective Bison hivemind - is also included in two forms, with the Balearic stoner rock of the “Power Boy Mix”
offering a sun-kissed (but still deliciously atmospheric) reinterpretation.

Highlights are naturally plentiful, with Ursula Major’s half-spoken, half-whispered vocals wrapping themselves around
spacious rhythms, shuffling drums, twinkling, effects-laden guitars and low-slung basslines. ‘Travellers’ is an album rich
on other-worldly intent, sparse grooves and thick, enveloping production. It’s exactly the sort of album you’d expect from
musicians and producers of this calibre. We may have been waiting a while, but Bison have definitely delivered.

1. Way To LA (Day)
2. Way To LA (Night)
3. Mandy
4. Mandy (Power Boy Mix)
5. Familiar Stranger (Day)
6. Familiar Stranger (Night)
7. New Moon Boy (Day)
8. New Moon Boy (Night)
9. Travelers

Vinyl gatefold released September 1
Digital released September 8
C56LP007 © Claremont 56 2014
www.claremont56.com

Familiar Stranger (Day)

Since launching in 2020, Claremont 56’s Claremont Editions series of compilations has delivered a trio of must-check collections featuring a mixture of unheard gems from the label vaults and brand-new, previously unreleased tracks. Label founder Paul ‘Mudd’ Murphy continues with this blueprint on 2024’s instalment, the fourth in total.

There's naturally some genuinely headline grabbing highlights amongst the nine tracks on display, starting with opener ‘Crossing’ – a fresh cut from C56’s in-house super-group Hillside (AKA Paul Mudd Murphy, Alex Searle and Patrick Dawes), featuring lead vocals from long-time friend of the family Quinn Lamont Luke. The track is prime Hillside: all rolling hand percussion, warming keys, simmering synth-strings, sun-splashed solos and blue-eyed soul vocals from the effervescent Quinn.

It sets a high bar, quality wise, but predictably the rest of the collection hits similarly heady heights. Mudd contributes two other tracks of note: a first collaborative outing with long-time creative partner Ben Smith for five years, Smith & Mudd’s ‘Journey Seven’ – a languid, slow-motion affair that hints at what we can expect from their forthcoming album – and a typically rich, jazz-fusion influenced solo excursion, ‘Massimo’s Steps’. As vivid, emotive and detailed as you’d expect, the track explores similar sonic territory to Mudd’s recent album, In The Garden of Mindfulness.

It's usual for Claremont Editions collections to include tracks from new members of the Claremont family. Editions 4 is no different, with Danish producer Fureby – a close friend of fellow Danes Mike Salta and Peter Visti – joining forces with Guy Moscoco and Brian Faber on ‘Halcyon (Extended Mix)’, a gorgeously kaleidoscopic Balearic groover rich in fluttering flute solos, simmering disco strings and sun-bright electronics.

Elsewhere, a few familiar favourites contribute suitably stellar tracks. Mai Fujinoya dons the Yamp Kolta alias for the first time since appearing on the first editions compilation in 2020, serving up the languid Japanese language Balearic pop brilliance of ‘Saturate’, featuring beautiful lead vocals by Yuzz. Krautrock-influenced duo Neumayer Station – who made their C56 bow on last year’s Editions collection – lay down a typically stretched-out, dubbed-out groove with Spaghetti Western soundtrack flourishes (the lilting and atmospheric ‘Bassrutscher’), while Ferdi Schuster invites us to dive into the immersive depths of ‘Resonance’ – a lightly art rock and progressive rock-influenced soundscape best enjoyed while lying flat on your back.

Slow-motion house specialists Hear & Now continue to join the dots between tactile Balearica and pitched-down Italian ambient house on the stunningly gorgeous ‘Chimaera’, while there’s a surprise return for a Claremont 56 favourite: Mudd’s sought-after extended mix of Bel’s 2018 single ‘Ready To Die’, a sing-along modern Balearic classic. This time round, it has been re-edited by Blank & Jones, who teases out the sun-soaked instrumentation before finally dropping the original’s emotion-rich lead vocals.

It all adds up to another must-check instalment of the indispensable Claremont Editions series. As usual, the vinyl version has been pressed in limited qualities and comes housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve, complete with another stunning cover painting by illustrator Mark Warrington.

Fureby, Moscoso & Faber - Halcyon

Bel - Ready To Die (Mudd's Extended Mix) (Blank & Jones Edit)

Mix Series - Minimal / Deep Tech - [Vol. 011]

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hubbabubbaklubb - Mopedbart 'Olefonken's Autostrada Miks'

MINUS164 - A1 - Gaiser - Wirelife

Baby

Brooklyn's Let's Play House keeps building momentum with its second release of 2012. This time, label heads Jacques Renault, Nik Mercer, and James Friedman have teamed up with a pair of artists shrouded in mystery—the Dead Rose Music Company—to put out an EP featuring four songs that confound definition... 


The Four Songs EP is a collection of tracks that aim to be cinematic in their production approach: these are epic mixes meant to stand the test of time, fueled by huge drops, warm, syrupy bass lines, and ear-tickling effects. While the four songs are technically edits, Dead Rose have left their inimitable fingerprints all over them. Each tune has the air and ambiance of a groove you got into at a party, but can't remember fully the morning after; they're visceral and almost dreamy, like the jumbled recollections of last night's disco fading in and out of strobe-lit smoke on the dancefloor. 

Shake

Eko Roosevelt - Kilimandjaro My Home [Olefonken Edit]

Remixed By Mark Evetts
Written & Produced By Alexandre Mouracade
Vocals By Toby Ernest

Sonns - On My Mind (Mark E Remix)

from the album "Sixteen F**king Years Of G-Stone Recordings"

Tosca-Rosa (R.Hunter Rmx)

DJ & Producer based in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Currently in the early stages of redefining the direction and vision of this project.

For inquiries or collaborations, feel free to reach out via Instagram or email. You can find all relevant links below.

Mix Series - Minimal / Deep Tech - [Vol. 011]

Leburc

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