Attempting to recreate the golden yesterdays of Jose Padilla’s White Isle sunsets with the tunes of today…

Bradbury & Blevins / Push Push Malcom / Horden Colliery Country Club

Veterans of the 4 /4, dancefloor, acidic chug, Ian Blevins and Bonar Bradberry, throw a complete curveball on their latest release, “Push Push Malcolm”. The EP includes a mix titled “The Lodge Rd Orchestra Interpretation” which couldn’t be further from house. Beatless, save pizzicato string patterns, instead what you get is a spirit lifting, symphony of cello, viola, and violin in synergy with rising and falling modular drones / oscillations. 

Belle Chen / Rise / Platoon

Pianist / composer Belle Chen promos her forthcoming album, “Blue Grotto”, with the single “Rise”. Recorded with The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Ben Palmer, it’s a balletic, cinematic waltz for keys and strings. Spinning prettily, the piece summons a sense of nostalgia, romance lost, and the film scores of both Joe Hisaishi and Ryuichi Sakamoto. 

For those in Australia, Belle Chen is about to embark on a tour: 16 Oct, Beijing, China, Dusk Dawn Club; 20 Oct, Prahran, Australia, Chapel Off Chapel; 22 Oct, Adelaide, Australia, Nexus Arts, 26 Oct, Marrickville, Australia, Shepherd; 28 Oct Perth WA, Australia, The Liberty Theatre; 27 Nov, Yuggera and Turrbal Country, New Farm QLD, Australia, Brisbane Powerhouse.

Ken Fan & Milam / Theories / Music For Dreams

Cafe del Mar resident Ken Fan’s fifth album, “Transitions”, is a collaboration with Hong Kong based DJ / producer / label owner Milam. An excursion into dubbed-out-chill-out, of the 8 tracks, “Theories”is my favourite. A slow, stoned, Mediterranean siesta of sighing strings, snaking synth and a faux melodica / accordion melodies, it shuffles to somnambulant beats and loose conga rattles, like A.P.E.’s classic trip hop meets Lord Scruffage’s remix of The Sabres Of Paradise’s “Wilmot”. 

Emil Friis / Hollow Hands / 130701

“Hollow Hands” is Emil Friis’ follow up to his LP “Moving Images”. The 4-track EP taking inspiration from from a line lifted from Kevin Brooks’ short film, made to accompany that album:

“She was my saviour. And that was the problem. What was I to her? An empty prayer. A hollow hand.” 

All the pieces are centred around Friis’ acoustic piano improvisations. Simple, plaintive, repeating melodies. 

On “Hands, Hollowed” a Wellspring reverb adds a subtle, sympathetic, sonic shimmering. “Some Fine Afternoon” moves a little faster. Its dancing figure accompanying a field recording, children playing, family chatter. The chiming, tinkling ivories creating an air, thoughtful, reflective, nostalgic. Like flicking through old photos. Loving not melancholic. 

“Hands Remembered” features low, synthesised drones that resemble muted orchestral brass or string fanfares. “As Sun I Meet You Now” employs Moog and Yamaha DX21 textures to surround and transform its rapid, rippling notes.  Distorting them, pushing them into the distance, as if echoing through the fog of memory. Before returning to a climax of sharp, optimistic brightness. 

Psychederek / Right Side Of The Ocean / Via Jupiter

Psychederek enlists the assistance of percussionist Danny Ward, saxophonist Stan Lewis and vocalist Lois Holmes for a new EP titled “The Right Side Of The Ocean”. The set comprises songs and instrumentals, but it’s the latter that prove the more suitable score for a sunset cocktail. “Saint Joan”, for example, has a campfire vibe, with congas, gentle strings, strummed acoustic, pretty Spanish leaning picking and hushed, wordless harmonies. “Central Drive”, again, is percussive, but now with a groovy bass-line, and building a sense of anticipation with fusion keys, big, dramatic piano chords and backwards bits of guitar. 

Artem Stan / Kerala Trip / Shades Of Sounds

Siberian artist, Artem Stan, takes Joe Morris’ Shades Of Sound on a “Kerala Trip”. Using the titular paradise, located on the South Indian coast, as the source of inspiration for a track that’s the progeny of chugging, mid-90s prog house. Morris’ “Indian Summer Mix” attaches everything to rolling breakbeat, but, in the context of sunset cocktails, it’s the “Ambience Beatless Mix” that’s of interest here. Where the drums are dropped, leaving only the new age-y noises: Angelic harmonies, bubbling, fizzing, effervescent frequencies and gently cascading keys. There are ethereal sighs, situated somewhere between whale song and Eastern chant, and machines mimicking fresh water trickling. It had me thinking of Lazer Worshippers’ “Free Flight”. 

Steins / Love Song / Music For Dreams

Danish musician Stine Hjelm, aka Steins, releases a second single on Music For Dreams. “Love Song” sets a deliciously melancholy ache to a steady but muted mid-tempo beat. Plucked patterns, warm, melodic bass tones, plus clipped and dampened kalimba accompanying the intimate vocal. Recalling past classics in the label’s back catalogue, such as Kenneth Bager’s “Fragments From A Space Cadet” and Bliss’ overlooked / underrated, “No One Built This Moment”, this is the sound of Music For Dreams that I first fell in love with.