Max Essa

Brand new Barcelona i mprint Balearic Ensemble hit the ground running with their premier plastic disc drop,
BE001. We’re over (and under, and around) the moon to present the Painting Of The Day EP, the first i n a series
of extended plays l ined up from the baddest crew of balearic samurais for your aural i ndulgence.
Leading the charge i s the one and only Max Essa, a man some may know as botanist-in-chief at the sublime
Jardin Jansen l abel, others as the shadow behind a string of l ush productions sounded out by the l ikes of the
Guv’nor Andrew Weatherall or a one David Mancuso. Painting Of The Day i s the l atest i n Max’s deeply
inventive output, with Joe Morris, Lukkas and Ibicenco duo Reisdentes Balearicos serving up three wondrously
lush revamps for the heads .
First up i s ‘ Matinee’, which takes that l aid-back 80s sound and washes i t through reverb racks and cascading
arpeggiatic tones. Soft, subtle and brilliant, the result i s an emotional Essa performance, akin to a soft caress of
the waves, or a brush stroke on a canvas i n the afternoon sun.
‘Tempo Babadoh’ i s another massive balearic number, promenading and pirouetting i ts way across a vista of
club congas, wah guitar and deluxe synth sounds. Sliding nylon strings evoke memories of a l ate-night Mandy
Smith anthem as agogo bells i nterweave among the flora and fauna of Max Essa’s balearic vision. A l ofty,
virtuosic affair that’s sure to be a staple when the good times come.
On the flip we have Joe Morris’s ‘ Paraiso’ version of Tempo Badaboh. It’s a(n) NY hymn, a dusty psalm, a
stellar reimagining of the original which brings an 80s Chicago feel with all the savoir faire and finesse that the
Clandestino man has come to be revered for. Sizzling b l ines, crickets at dusk and time-tested balearic motifs
presented i n a new, slightly angular l ight.
Over on B2 (?) we get Lukkas’ Club Mix of Matinee, a dangerous dance weapon with a dose of l ow frequencies
bubbling through the spaces and cracks l eft between Essa’s l ush, spacious tones, filtering and resonating i ts
way to the finish l ine with presence and class. One for the l ate hours…
And breathe. We proudly present BE001. Welcome to the ensemble - i t’s a feeling, i nit…