International Feel Uruguay

Review: According to International Feel boss Mark Barrott, Music For Presence is an attempt to broaden the evocative, downtempo sound he's been pursuing for the last few years. There's certainly a wider palette of influences on show, with opener "Shopenhauer's Garden" adding fluid synth solos to a backing track that doffs a cap to 1970s German synthesizer greats such as Tangerine Dream. The humid and sticky ambience of "Emile" sounds like Finis Africae jamming with Steve Hillage, while "Mokusho" blends cascading, life-affirming synthesizer motifs with spaced-out electronic beats and glistening chords. Closer "Lysander", with its bubbly electronics, cascading trumpet and impeccable piano work, could have come from the studio of Music From Memory regulars Gaussian Curve.

Review: International Feel's recently launched mini album series continues, with long-serving downtempo producer CFCF delivering his vision of a lazy Balearic holiday. Sitting somewhere between Jose Padilla, Joan Bibiloni, and Gigi Masin's collaborations with Templehof, the extended player's eight tracks bristle with authentic live instrumentation, most notably jazzy guitars, soft-focus acoustics, reflective pianos and humid accordions. These are effortlessly blended with subtle electronics to create sun-kissed, early morning mood pieces that undoubtedly define the Balearic, after-hours experience. What's most striking about On Vacation, though, is just how beautiful it is. At times, it's breathtakingly stunning.

Review: Following his limited edition tape debut on SFV, Scott Gilmore makes an even deeper mark on the mighty International Feel. Once again a blurred collage is revealed where references to library music, kosmiche and psychedelia all play key roles in his unique music narrative; his more hands-on experimental rock side is subtly shown on "Flight Through Grey" while clear parallels are made with Gainsbourg on the title track and other moments such as the touching closer "Walking Underground". Elsewhere we're dazzled by Balearica on "E70 No 01" and blindsided by ambient introspection on "Lady Street Racer". Beautiful, heavily layered and continually revealing more; this is an immaculate piece of work from all concerned.

Review: As debut albums go, this sumptuous set from the previously unheralded Scott Gilmore is extremely impressive. It's made up of eight evocative and emotion-rich compositions layered in Jonny Nash style guitar, meandering analogue synthesizer motifs, swirling sonic textures and the sounds of dusty old instruments bought at yard sales in the producer's native California. While his influences - think Eno and Byrne, the Walker Brothers, quirky 1970s library music, easy listening and early Air, for starters - are obvious, none of the included tracks sound like heartfelt tributes. In fact, it's Gilmore's own musical voice - imaginative, atmospheric and quietly colourful, with a passion for lo-fi recording techniques - that makes Subtle Vertigo such a rewarding listen.

Review: What a 12"! Given their stature, International Feel could probably pull in a DJ Harvey or a Theo Parrish to remix cuts from the Jose Padilla LP (maybe they will ooh!) but they've indulged their more esoteric urges here. Chicago house originator Ben Cenac comes through with a truly rare Dream 2 Science remix, turning "Lollipop" into a brisk, star gazing production rich in the musicality that characterised his (now) cult 1990 album. Complementing this are two fine remixes from Versatile's genius I:Cube with his marauding Balearic rave remix a real pearler of a production! International Feel include Padilla's OG version too!

Review: There was a sense of inevitability when Mark Barrott's International Feel label revealed plans to issue a new album from Ibizan legend Jose Padilla, the pair go together like Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. What makes So Many Colours particularly special is the fact Padilla got the chance to work with Barrott, Running Back affiliate Telephones, Australian producer Tornado Wallace and Jan 'Wolf Muller' Schulte, a list of artists that share a common approach to the idea and concept of being Balearic. As you would expect, copious amounts of fluttering beats, Spanish guitar strumming and deep throbbing arpeggiated basslines feature throughout So Many Colours and it's really a pleasure from beginning to end!

Review: Shelter began his production career re-editing quirky cuts of a Balearic persuasion, before dropping a fine collection of original tracks on Uber last autumn. That set of woozy, horizontal gems clearly impressed International Feel boss Mark Barrott, as he's decided to release the French producer's debut album. Zon Zon Zon is arguably a little more varied than some may expect, with Shelter combining his usual new age inspired melodies and tropical flavours with nods to rubbery, post-disco pop, dub, woozy ambient and the kind of fluid, sun-baked electronica that defies easy categorization. However you describe it, Zon Zon Zon is mightily impressive, delivering a near perfect blend of electronic and acoustric instrumentation.

Review: Last year's compilation to celebrate three years of International Feel felt like label boss Mark Barrott was drawing a line under some memorable 36 releases from Harvey, Gatto Fritto, Gonno and more, which in his own words achieved what he set out to do. It's pleasing then, to see that Barrott has elected to let International Feel grow further introducing yet another of his own musical projects in the shape of The Sonic Aesthetic. Now based in Ibiza, its clear the Mediterranean sun is having beneficial effects on Barrott with the three tracks here operating on a murky' lo BPM subterranean house flex. Face up track "Mendicant Adventures" is the clear stand out here, feeling like the hazy memories of a warehouse party slowly setting in concrete.