More details on:
www.astrobal.com
www.plugresearch.com
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Twitter:
@Astrobalwaves
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Astrobal ‘Reworked’ – A dream within a dream
DIGITAL UPC:886788711419
Cover art by Loïc Jouan

Multi-talented Emmanuel Mario led many a sonic adventure, both as an experimented musician (Arnaud Fleurent-Didier, Holden, Institut) and as a coveted producer (Laetitia Sadier) before giving flight to his own very personal project, Astrobal. His first EP, “Poetry & Science-Fiction”, propelled pop and electronica particles into fascinating new territories to the very boundaries of memory and the unknown, unveiling successive layers of folktronica with each listen: cinematic landscapes, reminiscences of theme music, images and childhood memories as well as dreamy and contemplative introspection. Not to mention a propensity towards travelling, exploring time frames, space and riveting sounds in as many poetic, visual, imaginary and sensorial experiments. Through “Poetry & Science-Fiction”, the dusk contained within was at last brought to light, and Astrobal never let formal minimalism impede upon the formation of an internal melodic cosmogony that proved both lush and acutely sensitive.

Emmanuel had dreamt of signing with Plug Research, a reference in terms of labels according to him. Now that he cradles this dream in the palm of his hand, he has chosen to bestow it upon other artists, musicians and remix maestros, allowing them to further extend paths taken, veer off into new directions or dream it themselves in turn. Astrobal ‘Reworked’ showcases eleven of the twenty proposals that were submitted. Eleven recreations, revisitings, in as many rebounds and ricochets. The eponymous theme of “Poetry & Science-Fiction” and its haunting backing vocals bounce over Thost’s beats, whilst Tom Terrien and Flairs bring the epic poems that lie at the heart of Astrobal’s fragile, raw and organic sonic forays to the foreground on "Will" and "Le Continent". Equally inspired by "Will", Levon Mateossian offers a stirring performance on "Les caresses des filles" where lurks the hedonistic spirit of Sébastien Tellier. Elsewhere Charlie Cole, who sang on the hypnotic "Trains", contributes a stripped-down, luminous and soulful interpretation of the standout track. Whether they float at the fringes or lie at the very heart of the new horizons contained herein, Astrobal’s visions and Emmanuel Mario’s voice are here reclaimed and become manyfold, offering new constellations to be visited again and again.

Nicolas Bogaerts
Many thanks to Naïma Carthew for translation

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With:

Alice Lewis
www.alicelewis.com
Thost
thost.bandcamp.com
Ben's Symphonic Orchestra
www.benssymphonicorchestra.com
Daahood
www.daahood.com
Flairs
www.myspace.com/mightyflairs
Tom Terrien
soundcloud.com/tomterrien
King Alone
pfff.tumblr.com
Charlie Cole
www.facebook.com/pages/CharlieCole/217409418321406
Meridians
soundcloud.com/meridians-2
Erik Jansson
www.myspace.com/erikjansson
Tensei
www.myspace.com/tenseisound

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BIO

Emmanuel Mario aka Astrobal grew up in Montauban, France. Sounds ranging from Neil Young to Kraftwerk filled the home of young Emmanuel. Motivated by teenage desires, he began taking drum lessons at an early age. His parents did not mind the clamoring in the garage while Emmanuel began exploring his creativity. He also a radio show while in school, making very crude mixes of his favorite music with passages from his favorite literature. Soon he had a four track recorder and capitalized on its ability to record tracks. Life led him to Toulouse where he would spend two years begrudgingly studying law. Uncomfortable with the atmosphere there, he finally decided to study music instead. He focused on digital production and bought a computer, buckled down and learned the ropes with Cubase. He started meeting some musicians in Toulouse whose positive feedback on his music inspired some confidence in Emmanuel. Through a serendipitous recommendation of a friend, his production landed in the hands of Laeitia Sadier of Stereolab. The two developed a friendship and much to Emmanuel’s astonishment, Laetitia asked him to work with her on music. After spending some time working with Laetitia and Stereolab, Emmanuel began working on his own compositions. Still working with computers, but upgrading to better microphones to record with, the Astrobal project took its form. The EP will be released through Plug Research later this year. The producer who does side gigs as a drummer for French artists Arnaud Fleurent-Didier and the band Holden, explains the project: “I named the project Poetry & Science-Fiction because I see my music as a mix between fiction and true reality, between space and everyday life, relationship and imagination, between François Truffaut & Philip K. Dick”
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