Claremont 56’s latest beguiling two-tracker is as picturesque, sun-kissed and humid as they come. It may surprise some, though, to find that the artist behind these intoxicating tracks is not an experienced creator of wide-eyed Balearic fare, but rather a little-known but fast-rising producer from Moscow.
Alterleo is the production alias of Denis Leonovich, a television sound producer who has spent his spare time making music for the best part of ten years. He released a handful of dancefloor-focused EPs (mostly on local label National Techno) at the dawn of the decade, before retreating to the shadows to experiment further in order to develop his own trademark sound. Last year he resurfaced via a track on a two-part vinyl compilation.
It’s this exotic new direction – inspired, Denis says, by his desire to join the dots between psychedelic disco, Balearica and tribal rhythms – that’s showcased on the producer’s Claremont 56 debut, which also marks his first solo vinyl excursion. Both tracks are underpinned by gentle, undulating tribal rhythms, and include sounds and melodies crafted by the producer on kalimba, vargan and some of the small native instruments that form part of his growing collection of such items.
A-side “Sunset Sparks” is a thing of rare beauty: a dreamy, humid and tropical excursion in which fluttering flute melodies and delay-laden African vocals gently rise above slowly-shifting chords, psychedelic electronics and a synth bassline so squeezable that you could use it as a stress ball.
Denis’s love of bold synth basslines is also evident on flipside cut “Boma”, a slightly bolder
and more polyrhythmic excursion whose sparkling melodies, fuzzy guitar motifs, Jew’s Harp
lines and foreboding aural textures create a quietly trippy mood. Some may note the influence
of Jan Schulte’s Wolf Mueller project, but Denis has crafted a mesmerizing signature sound
Includes unlimited streaming of
Sunset Sparks/Boma
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Minor Circle –
Double gatefold LP
Leo Almunia
£21.99 GBP
Samba With You –
Gatefold double vinyl
Jpye
£21.99 GBP
Sunday In June –
Gatefold double vinyl
Hillside
£21.99 GBP
Pulsar –
Remastered Double LP
Almunia
Sold Out
Walpole Days (Joe Claussell Remixes Part 2) –
Limited 12" (400)
Hillside
Sold Out
Cosa Ti Va? –
Limited (300) 7"
Jpye & Renato
Sold Out
Walpole Days (Joe Claussell Remixes) –
12" (LTD 400) (PRE-ORDER)
Hillside
Sold Out
Walpole Days (Joe Claussell Remixes) –
12" Gold Screen Printed Sleeve LTD 100 (PRE-ORDER)
Hillside
Sold Out
Claremont Editions Vol 2 –
Claremont Editions 02 CD LTD 100 (Bandcamp Exclusive)
Various
Sold Out
Claremont Editions Vol 2 –
Limited edition double vinyl gatefold
Various
Sold Out
Claremont 56 Silver Palm Key Ring LTD 100
Sold Out
Large Claremont 56 prismatic sticker
Sold Out
Alba Sol –
Double gatefold LP
Hear & Now
Sold Out
Claremont Editions 01 CD LTD 100 + Bonus tracks (Bandcamp Exclusive)
Sold Out
Ever Changing Bubbles (Deep88 Remixes) –
Limited 12" (LTD 300)
DJ Rocca & Leo Almunia
Sold Out
Jack Cutter/Almunia remixes limited sampler –
Jack Cutter/Almunia remixes limited sampler
Various
Sold Out
Claremont Editions 01 LP (LTD 500)
Sold Out
In A Small Place –
Sillyboy's Ghost Relatives - In A Small Place (LTD 300)
Sillyboy's Ghost Relatives
Sold Out
Japan tour heavy weight tote bag (black short handles) 12oz
Sold Out
Japan tour heavy weight tote bag (white long handles) 12oz
Sold Out
Birds –
Torn Sail - Birds 12" repress (250)
Torn Sail
£8 GBP
Hidden Port –
12"
Hillside
£8 GBP
All One –
Ferdi - All One
Ferdi
£16 GBP
Blue River (Remastered) –
Hand numbered, limited edition (500) gatefold
Smith & Mudd
Sold Out
Salmon Spungcake –
(Conrad McDonnell Remixes)
Bison
£7 GBP
New Moon –
Almunia - New Moon Double LP repress
Almunia
Sold Out
In A Small Place –
Sillyboy's Ghost Relatives - In A Small Place
Sillyboy's Ghost Relatives
Sold Out
Ready To Die –
Bel - Ready To Die (Mudd Mixes)
Bel
Sold Out
Idjut Boys & Laj - Slateo
Sold Out
Claremont 56 Stickers
Sold Out
Kama –
Waxwood - Kama/Kama (Fuga Ronto Remix) 12"
Waxwood
£8 GBP
Hear & Now - Aurora Baleare
Sold Out
Claremont 56 London, UK
Claremont 56 is an independent record label dedicated to releasing beautiful music.
