Ancient Temples ep from Suns of Arqa - featuring mixes from Gaudi, Astralasia, Youth and Gagarin
The Ancient Temples EP mixes dub, mysticism and bass into an enchanting blend. This EP release paves the way for a new Suns of Arqa album, Get Illuminated, out early 2014.
Suns of Arqa recorded Ancient Temples in the Southern Cape with DJ Fletcher from Cape Town's famed African Dope Records. SoA mainman Wadada then gave the mix parts on to Gaudi and Swordfish (from Astralasia). Gaudi's mix is the first track on the EP and reflects his reggae roots with a one drop rhythm, proper bass and signature excellent Moog lines. The tune blends roots with some well placed stripped down beats and bass and is great work from a producer at the top of his game. Gaudi and Interchill have a long history since the release of Gaudi's excellent album Bass, Sweat & Tears and Gaudi's compilation Sub Signals Vol 1. We are fans of his work and of his live performances, which have been bringing the fire to dancefloors the world over. The next cut on the EP is Astralasia's mix. Wadada first worked with Swordfish many years back pre Astralasia, guesting with the Magic Mushroom Band. The classic Suns of Arqa album Cradle was recorded in Swordfish's studio, so the musical partnership runs deep. Astralasia's mix of Ancient Temples in the Southern Cape really allows the lyrical sentiment to shine through and features some magical fiddle playing from Olivia Moore that introduces Celtic reel vibes to the mix.
Track 3, Pablo's Lament, mixed by Youth, is a departure into deep multi-layered psychedelia and dub, something Youth does better than anyone else. Youth first worked with Suns of Arqa almost 20 years back with the Whirling Dub release and we're happy to see this musical collaboration continue. Youth is a legend, from playing bass in Killing Joke, to running Butterfly Studios [where Ott and Simon Posford used to work], to starting the Dragonfly, Kamaflage and Liquid Sound Design labels and then on to producing huge acts such as The Verve, U2, and Primal Scream and also playing with Paul McCartney. His mix transports you on a journey into dub; from Kingston Jamaica to India and back. The final cut on the EP is the beautifully haunting The Truth Will Set you Free, mixed by Gagarin and featuring vocals from Angel Eye. Recorded in Adrian Sherwood's On U sounds studio this tune has a dub mantra quality to it; excellent drums and bass from Skip MacDonald [Little Axe], with a memorable vocal like a mystical lullaby.
