BASTIEN KEB – The Only Angel I Ever Saw Wore Black – LP – Vinyl

LP -Standard Edition Black Vinyl.

The album features 15 tracks, showcasing Bastiens truly cinematic sound while exploring new sonic territories. The album touches on the melancholic funk drifting between voiceovers of longing and hurt, through surreal, hallucinogenic folk ballads. Its the juxtaposition of these genres sewn together with ambient synth skits that really makes the album a musical journey. Playful and serious, as the album title suggests, Bastien manages to induce a rye smile with a tear in the eye.

In Sebs words, The album tells the story of a failed relationship, as the man narrators missing his other. Whilst he imagines her comforting him, before accepting the end of the relationship, and feeling that the love he feels, she never did.

Sharing common ground with luminaries such as David Axlerod, Kate Bush, Roy Orbison, Madlib and The Delfonics; Keb plays guitar, trumpet, bass, drums, piano, flute and more Kebs writing and recording approach is slightly unique. He explains a little about how his records sound the way they do…

I have a lo-fi approach to recording, for me its about the moment, all my records are time capsules of a certain time in my life, so the sound of the recording is secondary. Its all about heart, thats all Im interested in. If I get a melody I have to record it asap, if the mic isnt plugged in I use the macbook mic, if Im not by the computer Ill record into my phone.

For me personally using/sampling other peoples music isnt making your own music, using your own soul, showing your own heart, it’s just my personal opinion. Its not right for me. No slur on those that do. If there are any samples on my records, its me sampling me. For me, this means the music is mine. Its of me. Thats really important for me, because I feel thats where the honesty is. If my music sounds dusty, thats why.

This approach provides us with a wonderfully inclusive record. The album feels almost performed to us, live, on each listen. Coupled with Bastiens capacity to write music which is almost visual, the album is quite enveloping.

Bastien returns to Def Press with this new album after the brilliant, Holy Mountain. Released under the name Grandamme, with friend and collaborator Claudia Kane.

Tracklist:

A1. Clouded
A2. Tikka
A3. I Used To Wear My Scars
A4. Lost in the Sunflowers
A5. Eyebrows
A6. Mould / Paris
A7. Dotty

B1. As I Fall Asleep (I Try My Best Not to Think of You)
B2. Every Moment
B3. Animals / There is Nothing
B4. In My Dreams
B5. The World Slowed
B6. Nigel
B7. This Isnt Real
B8. Finest Nails