Kit Sebastian, Halal Cool J

London-based psychedelia revivalists Kit Sebastian cherry-pick the sound and aesthetics from multiple '60s and '70s rare record collections, faithfully re-creating an international sound using a combination of lo-fi recording techniques and high-end equipment. The duo's debut album, Mantra Moderne, laid out their template, while 2021's Melodi gave it a slight jazz-ward twist. French multi-instrumentalist Kit Martin moved to London after writing a handful of tracks; he needed a vocalist and searched social media for one who could sing in Turkish. Istanbul-born artist Merve Erdem answered the call. Together they wrote lyrics for the tracks in French, Turkish, and English before sending off a demo to Mr Bongo Records. Initially seeking advice from the label -- which was well-known for re-releasing the type of obscure records that inspired the band -- Mr Bongo was impressed enough to release the demo itself. Decamping to rural France, the duo recorded their debut album, 2019's Mantra Moderne; they chose to record everything live on an eight-track, mixing in the moment, with instruments including tablas, darbukas, balalaikas, ouds, MS20 synths, and Farfisa organs. When it came time to record again, Martin employed a wider range of instrumentation including zither, harpsichord, and congas while adding a heavier jazz influence to the songs. Released in late 2021, Melodi was another fine example of the duo's skills at writing and arranging, as well as a showcase for Erdem's strong vocals.
© Liam Martin & Tim Sendra /TiVo