Gatefold, Hand numbered limited to 300
Earlier this year, Claremont 56 served up something rather special: the atmospheric, claustrophobic debut single from Greek band Sillyboy’s Ghost Relatives, “In A Small Place”. A warm, drowsy and evocative commentary on smalltown paranoia, the single showcased a band not afraid to embrace their love of blue-eyed soul, soft rock, West Coast jazz-rock and hazy AOR.
These influences shine through on the band’s eponymous debut album, which will be released worldwide (with the exception of Greece and Cyprus) by Claremont 56 this September. It’s a slight diversion from an imprint renowned for its sun-kissed Balearic grooves, pastoral soundscapes and dubbed-out dancefloor moves, but one fully in keeping with the imprint’s love of warm, beautiful and atmospheric music.
It’s certainly a confident debut from Sillyboy’s Ghost Relatives, an Athenian four-piece founded by titular hero Sillyboy (AKA experienced musician, producer and vocalist Charalambos Kourtaras, who has previously released a string of solo albums to wide acclaim in his home country). The band is modeled in his image, with a warm and hazy sound marked out by bold, toasty basslines, effects-laden guitars and a mixture of retro synths and thickset electric piano motifs.
Sillyboy naturally takes centre stage throughout, delivering his loved-up and lovelorn lyrics like a latter-day Michael McDonald. His vocal performances, and that of his similarly experienced colleagues, lend the album a dreamy, visceral quality fully in-keeping with the languid richness of the music.
Highlights are plentiful throughout. Check, for example, the dewy-eyed, string-laden bliss of opener “Secret”, the 1960s style dream pop cheeriness of “High Life” and the drowsy, late night drift of “Daylight”, an impassioned plea for reconciliation rich in close harmony backing vocals and soft focus saxophone solos. Or, for that matter, the chunky blue-eyed soul grooves of “Muscle Cars”, the slow and seductive “Favourite One”, the tropical wooziness of “Better Than Words”, the vintage Steely Dan shuffle of “Learn To Forget” and the breezy Americana of closing cut “Wasted”, which delivers a stunning conclusion to an album of rare cohesion.
Includes unlimited streaming of
In A Small Place
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Claremont Editions Volume 4 –
Hand numbered limited gatefold double vinyl (600)
Various
£26.99 GBP
In The Garden Of Mindfulness –
Double vinyl gatefold
Mudd
£26.99 GBP
In The Garden Of Mindfulness –
Limited Edition 12" (250 copies)
Mudd
Sold Out
Playing Life –
Hand numbered limited gatefold double LP (300)
Ferdi Schuster
Sold Out
Bleu Your Mind –
Gatefold double LP
Jpye
£19.99 GBP
Claremont Editions Vol 3 –
Hand numbered limited edition (100) 6 page digipak with eco tray + bonus track
Various
£15 GBP
Claremont Editions Vol 3 –
Hand numbered limited edition (600) gatefold double LP
Various
£24.99 GBP
Warehouse find: Pair of leather Claremont 56 slipmats (only 8 pairs available)
Sold Out
Rheinlust –
Hand numbered limited edition (400) gatefold double vinyl
Fürsattl
£22 GBP
LTD 15 Year Anniversary luxury natural 10oz tote bag
Sold Out
Aurora Baleare –
(Double album)
Hear & Now
£21.99 GBP
Milvus –
Double gatefold LP
Hear & Now
£21.99 GBP
Samba With You –
Gatefold double vinyl
Jpye
£21.99 GBP
Minor Circle –
Double gatefold LP
Leo Almunia
£19.99 GBP
Sunday In June –
Gatefold double vinyl
Hillside
£21.99 GBP
Pulsar –
Remastered Double LP
Almunia
£20 GBP
Walpole Days (Joe Claussell Remixes Part 2) –
Limited 12" (400)
Hillside
£20 GBP
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
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
Claremont 56 London, UK
Claremont 56 is an independent record label dedicated to releasing beautiful music.
