Presenting the Swiss producer/electronic musician’s remarkable third album in a 3×10-inch record set and CD.
Now Again Records is proud to present Grimm Reality, the third album from our favorite Swiss electronic musician. Dimlite incorporates the techniques and artistic attitude of two of his alter-egos (Misel Quitno, a fanatic in low-fidelity electro-acoustic composition; the Slapped Eyeballers, a two-headed, world-rock-folk combo) to color a progressive sonic vision.
Titling his third album Grimm Reality might seem to point to a new autobiographical streak in this Swiss musician, but that would be too simple. It’s up to the listener to piece together a version of Grimm’s reality from mere hints: the wistful romance of “XY,” the tension and release of “New, Better Pain” and soon through every perfectly poised moment on this record. Likewise, looking for the remains of a hip-hop influence, or a connection to what’s happening on modern-day dance floors, won’t yield much here. The precedents that spring to mind are all cherished outsiders – Neu, The Residents, Beefheart, Philip Glass – footnotes in mainstream music history but, in an altogether preferable parallel universe, titans of the recent past.
This isn’t the patchwork of a tasteful record collector though – Dimlite eschews samples entirely, imbuing his music with the spirit of his heroes but never once grabbing for their sound. In so doing, he creates music that is highly singular and – despite its relatively ancient influences – altogether new. The album is presented across two formats, a custom, matte-finished digipak and as a deluxe 3×10” slipcase with original artwork by Anneka Beatty. The vinyl edition also carries an exclusive 7” single and a digital download code.
This anthology took root in a most unusual meeting of the minds: Christophe Lemaire, then creative director at French sportswear giant Lacoste, contacted Eothen “Egon” Alapatt, then general manager at L.A. indie Stones Throw Records, to inquire as to a collaboration between his eponymous clothing line and two of Stones Throw’s most well known talents – Madlib and J.Dilla. A collaboration did follow, and a friendship between the two was born – one stemming from a mutual respect for each other’s craft, and a conjoined goal to celebrate the classic while pushing forward into the future.
This anthology took form after one of many meetings at Lemaire’s boutique in the Marais district in Paris. The designer wondered if some of Egon’s Now-Again titles would be available for purchase, for sale in his shop? Egon – aware of Lemaire’s deep knowledge of the past forty-some-odd years of musical innovation and impeccable taste – proposed something more fitting: another collaboration, whereby Lemaire would pick songs from Now-Again’s vast catalog, which they could present as something unique… something new… as Lemaire puts it in his liner notes to this anthology – “a psychedelic journey of delicate perception.” While the worlds of fashion and music often meet, the missions of Christophe Lemaire and Now-Again – to break down the barriers that exist between genres; to entice those who might be interested not by force, but by subtle suggestion – mirror each other almost directly.
This project took some years to bloom. In the interim, Lemaire replaced Jean Paul Gaultier at the iconic French fashion house Hermès; Egon took Now-Again on a slightly different path than he’d originally envisioned for the label – obtaining the rights to catalogs from all over the world and releasing new music that addressed four decades of cultural and rhythmic change. This breadth gave Lemaire the room to maneuver as he selected tracks from the USA to Europe, from the Middle East to the African continent, which all included, as he wrote “influences that have traveled in the shape of a mysterious form that juggles space and time.”
And now: Where Are You From? “16 tracks of global psychedelic rock, funk and folk grooves from 1968 until the present day,” as procured by Now-Again, selected and annotated by Lemaire, and handsomely packaged for your enjoyment.
If you’re anything more than the most casual of visitors to this site, you’re aware of our role as stewards of the Kashmere Stage Band’s musical legacy – and that we’ve been heavily involved in the promotion of Mark Landsman’s documentary “Thunder Soul.”
Well – good news to all: It’s out in select theaters from coast to coast. A full list of theaters -and the film’s scheduled roll out in other cities can be found here. And, if you need more of a reason to go, check the film’s official trailer, above.
This compilation produced and annotated by Eothen “Egon” Alapatt
Orison sessions produced by Lekan Parsons/Orison
Universal Rhythms sessions produced by Lekan Parsons/Universal Rhythms.
New World Generation sessions produced by Stephen Bowden, Kingsley Swan, Suzanne Swan and Lekan Parsons.
Art direction by Trevor Karma Gendron
Restoration and remastering by Dave Cooley for Elysian Masters.
Tracklist:
CD Disc One:
Sunshine * 6:00
Curious Soul ** 5:52
Dreamland***** 4:14
One Of A Kind**** 6:12
I’m Feelin’ Fine**** 4:52
New World Generation**** 5:07
Mystical Planet***** 6:11
Celebrate***** 3:55
Do What You Do**** 5:09
CD Disc Two:
Worry*** 2:46
Free Your Mind** 3:47
How Do You Feel ** 4:33
Orison (A Prayer)** 5:14
Sunshine (Alternate Mix)* 5:48
Curious Soul (Alternate Mix)** 5:47
Listen From Your Soul** 3:04
We’ll Find A Way** 5:44
Loving You**** 6:41
Someday The World Will Be As One**** 5:08
LP:
Side 1.
Sunshine * 6:00
Curious Soul** 5:52
Dreamland***** 4:14
One Of A Kind**** 6:12
I’m Feelin’ Fine **** 4:52
New World Generation**** 5:07
Mystical Planet***** 6:11
Celebrate***** 3:55
Do What You Do**** 5:09
Sunshine (Alternate Mix) 5:48
Curious Soul (Alternate Mix) 5:47
Songs with a **** originally issued on Close Connections (no catalog number), 1982. Songs with a *, **, *** and ***** previously unreleased.
