Two years after his debut album under the moniker Aboukir, Ralph Maruani returns with a new record titled “Change”. Fitting title for a record that was written and recorded during a period of great turmoil in his life. The intimacy of these songs are reflected in the music itself. 

Whereas Digital Introversion was floating in a sea of psychedelic infused echoes and reverb, Change is much more stripped down : tracks like 'Rolling On' or 'Last Monday' shows a different side to Aboukir’s music as it opens up to folk/country accents in a 1970s singer-songwriter vibe. But the sound of his first opus can be heardon the 8-minute Floydesque hazy jam "Release", "Awakening" and the upbeat opener "Alright".

The album was recorded between December 2022 and March 2023 in Paris, France almost entirely by Maruani except for the drums which were recorded by Louis McGuire in Berlin, Germany and pedal steel by Reggie Duncan in Mississippi, USA. 

All tracks written, performed & produced by Ralph Maruani
Vocals, guitar, bass, keys and other instruments played by Ralph Maruani
Drums played by Louis McGuire, recorded in Berlin at Popschutz Studio
Pedal Steel played by Reggie Duncan
Lyrics by Ralph Maruani
Mixed & mastered by Louis McGuire
Photography by Mathias Schmitt
Executive production & publishing by Rotary RM

Buy 12"

Aboukir - Change

Fully expanded mix forthcoming July2014 vinyl release

BASSBALLS

Coda

Bourbon Bay

Croz

Rolling On

Release

Alright

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.

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

Reykjavik-born and bred producer, Tonarunur is no stranger to Dream Chimney, as he’s appeared on a number of compilations on the label going back to 2019. As we enter 2025, Tonarunur is poised for his debut release.

A four-track EP titled Geimotheque is set to come out on January 24th on @the-dream-chimney, a San Francisco-based record label and one of the best music websites out there. Music is My Sanctuary has the pleasure to premiere the EP’s closer – “Lifting Off”, an aptly-titled, 11-minute long, spacey, fusion disco epic.

Geimotheque EP

Exclusive Premiere: Tonarunur "Lifting Off" (Forthcoming on Dream Chimney)

Idjut Boys - Freebird Instrumental

Buy vinyl + digital: lnk.to/lcdhome

It wasn’t really hiding, just sitting quietly online. But Tom Sharkett’s edit of “Home” was too good to ignore. Originally a bootleg we first heard played on Flo Dill’s Breakfast Show on NTS, it wormed its way into our hearts and never left. So we made it official. Sometimes the internet actually makes your life better.

Buy vinyl

Home (Tom Sharkett Edit) (instrumental)

15 minutes of meditative bliss, gently smothering and soothing in its exquisite haze of percussive and melodic hues. Taken from the debut album from Phil Stroud on Good Company.

Read more & buy: http://www.stampthewax.com/2016/11/09/premiere-phil-stroud-flow/
Listen on Youtube: bit.ly/phil-stroud-flow

CREDITS
Keyboard - Jack Doepel
Guitar - Benjamin Witt
Vocals - Tessa Darcey
Additional mixing by Matt Gio & Dan Carroll
Mastered by James Newhouse

Listen on Youtube

Phil Stroud - Flow (STW Premiere)

off Deniz Kurtel's sophomore album, The Way We Live on Wolf+Lamb Records

Deniz Kurtel, Soul Clap - Safe Word ft Navid Izadi

UPDATE: 12" single has just been released - grab it here:

http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/471487-01.htm

Buy it on JUNO

Andras Fox - Your Life

Quiet Force - Listen To The Music (For Love And Emotions)

HELP ME 12mix

Rotary Phono Lab is an artist-driven label crafting timeless works and curating a bold spectrum of eclectic sounds.

Coda

Rotary Phono Lab

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