Downtempo / Balearic Recommendations February 2015

Review: Did Golf Channel boss it last year? Of course they did! How they gonna follow up in 2015 then? Keep on keeping on pal. Phil South's superb label prove they are not averse to the odd pun based contributor here with a debut for Cherry Garcia whose three track Vine Of Souls EP is perfect fodder to ease those out there still suffering from a New Year hangover. Sporting some artwork that looks like a discarded story board idea from The Mighty Boosh, the mysterious Cherry is evidently a talented soul on the basis of the sheer musicianship on display here. Golf Channel describe the title cut as "shapeshifting Brazilian dancehall-psych" and it sits well, bursting with a wonderful energy that will cause many to dance. Fans of Finis Africae are recommended to spend some time with the sumptuous closer "Sol Floresta".

Review: A barbed quartet of dark delights from FlaKo ahead of his Natureboy album in March; since working with Fatima's Yellow Memories, the German/Chilean has ditched the hip-hop in favour of a deeper, more personal roots exploration. From the decayed cathedral echoes and graveyard tropics of "Kuku" to the nylon-string plucking somnambulant tides of the blissful "Gone", it's clear FlaKo has set a new personal benchmark... And this is just the beginning.

Review: Started in 2013, Mollusca Vinyl is a Brooklyn based electronic reocrd label specializing in minimal style, analog laden music. Our folks believe in pushing the vinyl medium as art. This set of compositions has been described as Balearic downtempo with pastoral departures. Written while on several beaches, it suggests the definition of lackadaisical make out music, emoting euphoric post pillow talk feelings-of-the-raw through minimalist synth phrasing, ambient texturing and isolated beats. Artwork by Doroniyam at Azuri Cafe. Mastered by Jason at Transition Mastering UK. Printed at Brooklyn Phono.