stratus

After the international affair of NADO015, Moonboots' and Boardman train their gaze a little closer to home for the latest Aficionado release, welcoming the return of the majestic Stratus to the label. Back in 2013, the outfit gifted the world the sweeping beauty of the 'Spring Tide EP', a fuzzy hybrid of Dorothy Ashby, Pat Methany and Manuel Gottsching which soundtracked many a horizontal afternoon in the late Summer sun. Now Mat Antony returns to the imprint with another four tracks of intricate, immersive genius, primed to fling open the doors of perception and guide you into a brave new world. 'Axis' eases us into proceedings with the gentle cadence of languid guitar, allowing us a moment of hazy tranquility before an explosion of symphonic funk sends us spinning away into a different plane of consciousness entirely. The lost soundtrack to a peyote fuelled Sergio Leone flick, 'Axis' is a lone ranger riding an Axelrod rhythm deep into the desert while the chiming bells, choral vocals and campfire guitars swirl and eddy in the dry heat. On the A2, 'Oxwich' offers a glimpse of lush vegetation, flora and fauna in full swing in the tranquil paradise of a rich oasis. Opening with a field recording of a tropical lakeside, the track blossoms into life with rhythmic guitar, gentle percussion and a pastoral bassline, all washed through with a fuzzy psychedelia, before wavy North African melodies shimmer this way and that in the midday swelter. 'Solstice' sees Antony embracing the mellow magic of a violet dusk, taking us on a stoned journey into cinematic jazz territories with an Air of French sophistication. The relaxed charm of gentle Rhodes paints an endless horizon before the celestial keys and glittering arps scatter stars far across the heavens. 'Tisno' closes the EP out in more earthly surroundings as aquatic keys lap over organic percussion, and airy strings breeze over the thick and sticky bassline. Fragile piano chords glimmer in and out of the dubby soundscape, suggesting an emotional release finally realised by the euphoric sequence which closes the track and the EP. This is a vivid, expressionist masterpiece from Stratus, and another essential release from a flawless label. Officially Aficionado

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: gpsr@wordandsound.net

Stratus are Mat Anthony and Martin Jenkins, two English gents whose love for warped soundtracks, fuzzed-out psychedelia and analogue aesthetics was distilled in the bittersweet harmonies and wistful bliss of last year's long-awaited second album 'As the Crow Flies', taking in everything from sublime pastoral electronics through to string-laden cosmic rock. No Johnny-come-lately's to tinkering in the studio down the years they've remixed the likes of Serge Gainsbourg, Minimal Compact and Calexico, released records under a variety of aliases for labels including Pussyfoot, Klein, Tigersushi, Hi-Phen, Ghost Box and Fragments whilst notching up the a fair few DJ gigs and lost weekends along the way. The Spring Tide EP finds them dipping their toes in distinctly Balearic waters. Fireflies kicks things off with a mid-tempo cut of driving guitar harmonics, lush Rhodes and sun-kissed strings. My Brother's Keeper channels Cadet-era Dorothy Ashby with a looping harp refrain and low-slung bass and drums. Lune d'Afrique ups the tempo with swinging Afro drums, mbira and swirling arpeggios before a choral refrain takes it up and beyond. Sympatry was originally written for a timelapse film - lilting acoustic guitar, glockenspiel and Mini-moog lines drenched in reverb that shimmer with a homespun beauty.

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: gpsr@wordandsound.net