Wow, great groove from the beginning. Never heard of Anatolian Rock but will seek it out. Like the breakdown too.

If 2022’s The Children Of Scorpio was the debut album that turned people onto the world of Project Gemini aka Paul Osborne, Colours & Light is the body of work that will be buried deep into their hearts. It is a majestic album, bringing together the worlds of folk rock, psych soundtracks and hazy cinematic funk.
 
A growing confidence and ease emanate from the writing and production of this sophomore LP, bolstered by the reception to his standout debut. “It’s a more layered and diverse record” Paul mentions, “with a more outward-looking, global sound, born out of the records I was listening to and the musicians I was lucky enough to collaborate with”. It feels relaxed yet self-assured, with a kaleidoscope of sounds that twist together in a mesmerising fashion.
 
The theme of the album developed naturally through the lyrics Paul began writing. A creative process both plagued and fed by insomnia, nourished by relationships, entwined in emotions, nights out, nights in and the after-effects on the human condition. Relatable themes yet seen through the prism of a soundscape that takes in many a different culture and scene. From acid folk to psych-funk, Francophile elements to Anatolian and Eastern inspirations, all interlocking and rotating as one.
 
Drawing inspiration from those he admires, Colours & Light radiates with collaborations. The title track, which tips its hat to a live 1973 TV version of Pentangle’s ‘Wedding Dress’, features the folk rock, guitar brilliance of Jack Sharp from Wolf People/Large Plants.
 
Elsewhere, two tracks are blessed by the sultry, smokey French vocals of Gloria’s Wendy Martinez, ‘Extra Nuit’ and ‘Entre chien et loup’. The former echoes Paul's love of classic French psych-pop from the late ’60s and early ’70s and artists such as Laurance Vanay, Calcium, Leonie, and Serge Gainsbourg. Martinez's sublime vocal work nestles perfectly within Paul's psych-folk-funk productions, as her Gloria partner, Alexis Morel (aka Kid Victrola) sprinkles a dose of entrancing guitar line magic on proceedings.
 
The list of collaborations extends further with Raz and Markey Funk, drummer Tony Coote and percussionist Paul Elliott all featuring. Regular collaborator and underground icon Barrie Cadogan (Little Barrie) returns along with Bert Page from The Cromagnon Band, who between them provide a hit of whacked-out, fuzzed-up country guitar and Moog madness respectively on ‘Lost In The Woods (Bacchanal)’.
 
Rounding off the record Paul’s daughter, Olivia Osborne, supplies the keyboard intro on the penultimate track ‘Twilight’. Dorian Conway from The Soundcarriers (whose bandmate Paul Isherwood returns on mixing duties) then layers echoing heavy flute parts to magically capture the psychedelic sunrise images brought to mind. 
 
Balancing light and shade on this record, there is beauty and tension all wrapped up in Paul’s vivid and visceral, storytelling gift.

Project Gemini - Colours & Light

'After The Dawn' is the first track Project Gemini, AKA Paul Osborne, has unveiled since the release of his impressive 2022 debut album, ‘The Children Of Scorpio’. Based on a groove from a 2018 demo, it pushes the sound he conjured for his debut into new areas, whilst masterfully avoiding repetition. Rich with the dense incense of 70s Anatolian Rock, Turkish musicians such as Erkin Koray and Edip Akbayram provided a captivating influence. There’s also echoes of UK psych pioneers July, along with the dark, almost breakbeat-esque psychedelia favoured on Now Again’s 2009 ‘Forge Your Own Chains’ compilation. It’s a hazy, psych-folk-funk sound that will delight fans and win over new audiences.

The drummer Raz Man of Sababa 5 fame creates the backbone for the song, laying down a relaxed yet snappy breakbeat groove. Paul Elliott from Eleven 76 (and director of the Library Music Film) sprinkles some magic in the form of Eastern percussion, and Little Barrie takes things to the next level with his rhythm and lead guitar contribution. Paul's bass guitar is front and centre, whilst his layered vocals wash throughout the production. Mixed by Paul Isherwood of The Soundcarriers, and mastered by Joker, ‘After The Dawn’ is a sonic tour de force.

With a new album in the works, ‘After The Dawn' is the hors d'oeuvre in Project Gemini's next chapter. Thematically, the album is loosely based on the concept of how the hours between dusk and dawn impact human behaviour, and ‘After The Dawn' reflects the brew of guilt and elation felt after a lost night of soul searching.

Project Gemini - After The Dawn

If ‘After The Dawn’ was the hors d'oeuvre to Project Gemini aka Paul Osborne’s next chapter, ‘Colours & Light’ serves up a slice of the main course. Heralding the official announcement of Paul’s sophomore album under the same name, the title track further showcases the sonic palette listeners should expect to sample across the forthcoming album.
 
Garnering a deluge of BBC 6 Music plays and a brilliant reception, ‘After The Dawn’ sparked excitement around the prospect of a new LP from Project Gemini. Breaking through the winter gloom, the second single ‘Colours & Light’ further spotlights a refinement in Paul’s sound. Talking of the origins of the track, he states that it wields a “UK folk-rock sound with a breakbeat-like rhythm section, partly inspired by a live version of Pentangle’s ‘Wedding Dress’ from a 1973 TV performance”. A psychedelic trip through time and emotion, hazy hues and wistful horizons.
 
Paul’s reverberating vocal refrains draw you in from the get-go, with the cauldron of folk-flavoured guitar, earthy bass and ethereal organs providing a ritual of resonance. Jack Sharp of Wolf People/Large Plants fame stands front and centre, leaning into that rock-tinged feeling with an expertly constructed, wah-wah fuzzed guitar solo. Creating the breakbeat foundation, Sababa 5 drummer Raz Man and percussionist Paul Elliott from Eleven 76/Call Sender work in unison to conjure up a captivating groove.
 
‘Colours & Light’ gives an alluring insight into what’s to come on this much-anticipated follow-up LP. Moving deftly between light and shade, through folk, psych and hazy funk, whilst being artfully enveloped in Paul’s signature cinematic style.

Project Gemini - After The Dawn

Mr Bongo

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