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Patio Pastels Mini LP

by Blair French

supported by
Yiannis Nova Dorakis
Yiannis Nova Dorakis thumbnail
Yiannis Nova Dorakis Blair French's latest 12'', its finest today and most familiar and clearly 100% #BalearicForYou, it is offering barefoot languid grooves which are featuring minimal synth rhythms that armed with soft percussive ageless White Island miniatures and 'whispered' soundscapes perfect for lazy Balearic use and sea water guide survival. Simply one of the most playable releases in my turntables the last weeks, day and night.
Phil Cooper
Phil Cooper thumbnail
Phil Cooper It is a true audio journey and its been a pleasure to be involved in putting this release out.
badgervsbaboon
badgervsbaboon thumbnail
badgervsbaboon Wonderful stuff again from Phil' stable of balearic donkeys. Very little know about this chap in our camp but we're already sold. Big fans. Will be able to play all of this release at Pikes over the summer ahead.
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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    6 track EP, limited pressing... Vinyl in 3mm spined full colour sleeve.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Patio Pastels Mini LP via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    edition of 25 
    Purchasable with gift card

      £11.99 GBP or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £8 GBP  or more

     

1.
Patio Pastel 08:16
2.
3.
Morning Sail 06:20
4.
5.
6.

about

2017, Blair French came out of hibernation to release contrasting but similarly sun-kissed EPs on Rocksteady Disco and Claremont 56. Here, he returns to action with a scintillatingly sunny and sensual six-tracker on NuNorthern Soul that may well be his strongest release to date.

Given French’s chameleon-like musical history, that’s certainly a bold claim. Over the years, he’s been a member of a multitude of musical collectives – most notably Cosmic Handshakes and Formless Figures – established his own DIY record label (Fat Finger Cosmic) and released music that touches on a dizzying array of styles, from award-winning movie soundtracks and Afro-fired deep house, to skewed techno, blissful ambience and experimental hip-hop.

On Patio Pastel, French is in full on sand-between-the-toes Balearic mood, delivering a range of lucid, ear-pleasing compositions that will sashay their way into your consciousness. Contrast, for example, the drowsy organs, glistening pedal steel and undulating hand percussion of opener “Patio Pastel” with the Serge Gainsbourg style chanson-goes-tropical bliss of “La Playa De Tercipelo”, which features some deliciously breathy vocals from Stephanie Lyon.

Then there’s “Morning Sail”, a sumptuously evocative soundscape rich in toasty, dub disco bass, shuffling percussion and lilting, Jonny Nash style guitar solos (see also the effortlessly horizontal “Lounsbury Gardens”), and the kaleidoscopic, saucer-eyed Balearic pop brilliance of “Human Make Human”, where new age synthesizer melodies and the fuzzy vocal refrain of Kasi Seguin gentle dances above an Afro-flecked, mid-tempo groove.

Throughout the EP, French mixes electronic and acoustic instrumentation, drawing together musical elements from a myriad of styles to create sumptuous new fusions. It’s particularly evident on superb closer “Belle Isle Sunsets”, where colourful synth motifs, eyes-closed guitar riffs and Mediterranean-warm chords wrap themselves around a gently pulsating, impressively layered groove. Like the rest of the EP, it’s perfectly pitched, expertly executed and wonderfully atmospheric.

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Reviews

the-sun-lounge.com/post/184816759608/reviews-247-blair-french

levisiteuronline.com/music/blair-french-ft-stephanie-leon-la-playa-de-terciopelo-lv-premier

banbantonton.com/2019/04/29/blair-french-patio-pastels-nunorthern-soul

boltingbits.com/blair-french-patio-pastel-nunorthern-soul

credits

released May 1, 2019

All songs written and produced by Blair French
Vocals written by Stephanie Leon and Kasi Seguin
Musicians:
Schuyler Campbell (Keys) songs 3, 5, 6
Jamiel Dado (Guitar, Bass) songs 2, 3, 4
Michael Jurczak (Guitar) songs 1, 3, 6
Ryan Spencer (Guitar) song 6

Mastering by Robin Lee

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Blair French Detroit, Michigan

Home page to the table spread of Blair French. Ambient to Dance grooves and in between.

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