Research Records indicate their inclination for cosmic instrumentation and kraut pervaded polyrhythms once again with an introduction to newcomer Glass Beams. Recorded at the beginning of 2020, Mirage is the first release from the artist, issuing four compositions that lend from a profusion of sounds and influences.

"I was looking for new energy & inspiration to write a bunch of new music. I recalled a childhood memory of my parents and I watching a DVD they had bought: ‘Concert For George’ (a tribute concert for George Harrison from the Beatles). George’s long time collaborator and friend Ravi Shanka put an Indian Orchestra together for that concert, and even though I hadn’t even started playing music at the time that I watched this, the sounds really stuck with me.

My father was born in India and moved here when he was 17, and after recalling this memory I decided to look up musicians from my father’s hometown and surrounding areas. I found a wealth of Indian classical, disco and pop music that formed the building blocks for this record. As soon as I had that vision of what I wanted to write and why I wanted to write it, the songs just flowed out really." – Glass Beams

The album's opener and title Mirage arrives with a coiling vocal mantra that conspires with a sliding bassline and transcendent synthwork, reminiscent of early 70’s prog jams yet inverted and futuristic. Taurus is a brisk arrangement, steeped with spaghetti-western elements and space-jazz to pave the way for the agile Kong. Rife with psych-fusion guitar phrases and instrumentation, Kong unfolds like a forecast lysergic voyage. The finale Rattlesnake nudges the serpent with intergalactic scales and spellbinding riffs. We may not know much about the enigmatic Glass Beams but Mirage is one epic inauguration, leaving the listener with more questions than answers.

Mirage

Glass Beams - Mirage EP | snippets

Over the last few months we've been quietly archiving all of the amazing music that gets shared at Paradise every weekend and we're now ready to slowly share those magic moments with the rest of the world.

Our inaugural recording comes courtesy of a first time B2B session that occurred between Josh Cheon of @darkentriesrecords and @barparttime's co-founder @jeremy_castillo at the Bar Part Time x Open Ferment afterparty on September 9, 2022.

Enjoy this two hour glimpse into a high vibe / high consumption evening with two of San Franciscos most talented and warm hearted DJs and be sure to check back often for more additions to the archive!

📸: Karli Fahlman

Paradise Archives Vol. 1 with Josh Cheon B2B Jeremy Castillo

Longtime friend, DJ, producer Sid Vaga saw that Nickodemus was about to play at the Electrafrique party in Dakar & asked if I can get in touch with this singer he noticed on DJ Cortega's Instagram page called Beni-Fadi. Beni-Fadi comes from Bandafassi, Senegal's South East region, where they speak an almost extinct language called Menik. In an attempt to keep the language alive, Beni decided to collaborate with electronic producers & bring his language & story of the Bedik people to the World. Mba-Mba (Dilemma) speaks of being proud of who you are & where you come from even when you are the minority. 

released April 6, 2023

Produced by Nickodemus & Sid Vaga
Written by Benoit Fader Keita (Beni-Fadi), Nickodemus, Sid Vaga
Additional percussion by Congafist
Vocals recorded in Dakar @ Deedo Studios
Special thanks to DJ Cortega (Electroafrique) & Passa Beatz

Remix & additional production by Jimpster
Remix & additional production by Passa Beatz
Mastered by EQuus
Artwork by Ojin Ngode
Turntables on the Hudson Music 2023

Buy on Traxsource

Nickodemus & Sid Vaga feat. Beni Fadi - Mba Mba

Live recording of @jeremy_castillo at Bar Part Time August 2023.

Jeremy Castillo Live @ B.P.T. August 2023

2025-07-11 - SERIES OF TABOO E10 with MELIS

Broadcasting live from a subway station, Milano - Cairoli M1

2025-07-11 - SERIES OF TABOO E10 with MELIS

LINEA

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