Dream 23 is a 12-track album (and trip) that takes listeners on a voyage through space and time, pausing to consider themes like openness and healing in the context of chaos. The artist orates the journey of traveling through space and first considering “Air,” the element that surrounds us all, then notions of multiplicity in being “Heliocentric,” followed by metacognitive realizations in “Every Other Cloud” that passes by the space traveler. Being as it were an album fully written, recorded and produced during pandemic, the second-released single “Apocalypse” acknowledges quarantine and its effects on this journey through the dream. Ideas of “Time” are then questioned and challenged right before listeners descend back to earth, with the Interlude titled in Arabic “Hiboot” signaling a come-down. The second half of the album kicks off with the first-released single “22+1.” Evidently, 23 marks the number of dreams and the number of times the artist has circled around the sun. As opposed to succumbing to the weight of the world, listeners are “Cool With It,” comfortable with the ebb and flow of this life and next. The album’s first feature, Egyptian-British rapper Malik Polo, is introduced when the artist begins wondering, Why is the world and its people “Lookin’ at Me” like that? How do others’ perceptions of us impact our own understandings of self? Nature and the abundance of earth is tied in with the blossoming of “Blue Lotus” flowers and the healing properties they possess; steeping the blue lotus in tea or running a bath elicits the making of “Mantras,” by which the artist chooses to live by. The entire perspective of Dream 23 rests on a single and infinite possibility— that “All Things Fly.” The final track features fellow Egyptian emcee Dena Anuk$a and closes out with a compelling outro alluding to prospects of the future, for the artist and for the universe at large.
Bayou
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INQUIRIES
paolo@aburecordings.com
BALAMII — AUGUST 2021 — AXJ2000
AXJ2000 brings us on a 2-hour journey through his favourite ambient, electro and breaks cuts. Delicate synthesis, heavily processed amens and squelchy acid lines throughout.
NTS — PALESTINIAN SOUND ARCHIVE: MAJAZZ PROJECT X SAINT LEVANT, BAYOU & ABU RECORDINGS
Mo’min Swaitat teams up with some of his favourite artists and labels to present his collection of vintage cassettes from Palestine and beyond, including jazz, funk and Bedouin field recordings.
NTS — PALESTINIAN SOUND ARCHIVE: MAJAZZ PROJECT X IBN ITAKA X ABU RECORDINGS
Mo’min Swaitat teams up with some of his favourite artists and labels to present his collection of vintage cassettes from Palestine and beyond, including jazz, funk and Bedouin field recordings.
NTS — PALESTINIAN SOUND ARCHIVE w/ ABU RECORDINGS
Mo’min Swaitat teams up with some of his favourite artists and labels to present his collection of vintage cassettes from Palestine and beyond, including jazz, funk and Bedouin field recordings.
BALAMII — July 2021 — Illbient Special w/ Shirah
Abu Recordings looks at the illbient scene that defined underground music in early 90s New York. Journey through a stack of Illbient tracks alongside sounds that helped inspire the genre. Bits inside from DJ Spooky, Spectre and DJ Olive. Curated by DJ Shirah.
BALAMII — June 2021 — Dean Blunt Special
A 2-hour deep-dive into UK underground legend Dean Blunt’s vast discography presented by Musa Returns and Miya Creature.
BALAMII — May 2021 — MINOS
Joined by MINOS for a two hour selection of electro and techno. Lots of exclusive cuts inside from the Abu Crew and MINOS herself.
BALAMII — April 2021 — Abu Recordings w/ Cocomofo
Cocomofo joined Abu Recordings for the first hour this month with a live set featuring songs from their upcoming EP ’40 Meters Down’. The second hour is centred around the latest release on Abu Recordings: ‘Who We Are As People’ by The Josh Craig.
BALAMII — March 2021 — Abu Recordings w/ Musa Returns
A 2-hour selection of gritty east coast rap, techno and electronica hosted by Abu Recordings co-founder Musa Returns and Paolo Cicilioni.
BALAMII — February 2021 — The Neptunes Special
A 2-hour journey through the works of the legendary production duo Neptunes. Vish Matre, Gregorybebad and Paul Wale traverse between their early works, demos, anecdotes and some of their most popular releases for two hours.
BALAMII — JANUARY 2021 — ABU RECORDINGS w/ FELUKAH
Joining Abu Recordings on their first episode of 2021 is Egyptian American artist Felukah. Over the past year, Felukah has emerged as one of the leading figures in the Middle Eastern hip hop scene. In the show they premier her next single, “PSA (feat. Nic Hanson)” which will be coming out this Friday via Abu Recordings.
BALAMII — SEPTEMER 2020 — ABU RECORDINGS w/ KIDD AM
Abu Recordings were back with their guest KiddAM for the September installment of their show. This time, host Paolo Cicilioni opens up with an hour of RnB, Soul and Synth Pop before Louisiana based artist Kidd AM steps up bringing more of the same.
SOUNDS: ABU RECORDINGS UNTITLED SERIES
A collection of rugged untitled electronic jams by founders Paolo Grilli Cicilioni and Aaron Jerome with a guest feature by Karim Atari.
BALAMII — AUGUST 2020 — ABU RECORDINGS w/ TJC
This month’s Abu Recordings show was hosted by label head Paolo Cicilioni, who invited Josh Craig to take over the show ahead of release on the label in 2021. Techno, Breaks, Electro and even some ambient selections all inside.