STR4TASFEAR

Welcome to STR4TASFEAR, Gilles Peterson and Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick’s sophomore STR4TA album. A collection of songs, melodies, grooves and sounds that sit perfectly in the brand new music world it’s part of. Gilles and Bluey are both men who emerged into the Brit-funk world. They were both part of this truly thrilling chapter in the story of homegrown music; which manifests itself here in a sumptuous mixture of twanging basslines, spacey synth melodies, clicking beats and wispy, ethereal voices. 

The epicentre of STR4TASFEAR still remains the ‘meeting of minds’ and treasured friendship between the band’s founders, a solid production duo whose clearly defined roles compliment and inspire each other. Gilles Peterson as executive producer, sonically enriching the production process with his extensive and encyclopaedic knowledge from Brit-funk and Electro-soul of the late 70s/ early 80s to ushering in a new wave of musicians over his esteemed career as a DJ, label owner and broadcaster. Feeding the creative flow of highly acclaimed musician and producer Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick who in record-time, single-handedly produced ‘Night Flight’ following one of their inspirational sessions characterised by the TR808 drum machine. With the invaluable contribution of Mo Hausler, an instrumental figure in completing the soundscape of the album. The vision was finessed by the magic touch of legendary keys/piano player Peter Hinds (Atmosfear, Light of The World, Incognito), appearing throughout the record, and is at the pinnacle of paying homage to the incredible pioneering work of bands such as SunPalace & Freeez, paving the way of UK electro-soul for artists like Total Contrast & Stephen Dante (produced by Bluey in the mid-80s). This sound is now being revived by contemporary producers like Dâm-Funk, Zopelar & Space Ghost to name a few.

Tracklist

1. Galactic Fanfare
2. City Sounds
3. Turn Me Around 
4. When You Call Me
5. Why Must You Fly (Feat. Omar)
6. To Be as One (Feat. Theo Croker)
7. (Bring on The) Bad Weather (Feat. Anushka)
8. Reflections (Chaser 1)
9. Night Flight
10. Soothsayer (Feat. Theo Croker)
11. Reflections (Chaser 2)
12. Lazy Days (Feat. Emma-Jean Thackray)
13. Find Your Heaven (Feat. Valerie Etienne)
14. Virgil (Vocal Version)
15. Something, Anything