As co-founder of Los Angeles based Jungle Gym Records, Jared Carrigan employs numerous aliases, including V. Kristoff, Congo River Club House, and Scout Island, to explore myriad sounds from ambient, noise, musique concrète, psych-rock, and techno. The longest running of all his projects, René Najera culls most of its sound from the latter category while also dipping its toes into all of the above genres.
On the project’s debut vinyl full-length, ‘Painted Life’ features prime solo cuts alongside collaborations with labelmates and like-minded collaborators including Precipitation, Leech (Brian Foote), and Tile Plazas. The album, forthcoming in August on fellow California imprint 100% Silk, naturally gravitates toward “club smoke, mood house, psychic acid, and sunrise electronica”. It’s an intoxicating blend of heady house rhythms perfectly suited for unhurried, humid summer rooftop parties.
Our pick for today’s premiere is “Bad Analogy”, a gorgeous lucid dream featuring Silk vet Maria Minerva. Her vocals blend exceptionally well with Carrigan’s production, drifting like slowly dissipating smoke over dreamy keys and field recordings. Press play and you’ll find yourself getting lost in René Najera’s ethereal sonic landscape. The results are as danceable as they are pensive.
‘Painted Life’ is scheduled fore release on 1st August via 100% Silk. Order a copy from Bandcamp.
TRACKLIST
1. The Seasons (ft. Leech)
2. Ancestral Remnant
3. Moonscape
4. International Images (ft. Tile Plazas)
5. Nature’s Veil (ft. Precipitation)
6. Pictures of Dreams
7. Bad Analogy (ft. Maria Minerva)
8. Balancing A Stone