Raw Tones by Joaquin Joe Claussell

Joaquin Joe Claussell readies the Raw Tones LP on Rekids and it's a beautifully deep and soulful release.

Raw Tones by Joaquin Joe Claussell Photo by Rekids

The first LP since 2008's "Corresponding Echoes" on his Sacred Rhythm Music, Joaquin Joe Claussell arrives on Radio Slave's Rekids for "Raw Tones", a nine-track excursion through the sound of his exquisitely soulful house music.

Originally released on uber limited cassettes, the music within "Raw Tones" caught the ear of Radio Slave, aka Matt Edwards, who messaged Claussell, a friend since remixing Edwards' Machine project in 2012, and convinced the legendary producer that the music needed a wider audience and, so, "Raw Tones" the LP is here.

Introspective opening cut "Lock Down" draws for breathy strings and swirling pads, followed by the hypnotic and low-slung "The Blame Game (Table Top Idea)", which sees jazzy keys float around carefully crafted dubbed-out ambiance and subtle, whispered vocals.

"Break Free" ups the energy, bringing a wonky bassline under decisive, machine-like drum hits while both spoken and sung vocals interplay throughout. "You Mutha Fuka" brings rock-solid drums and thick bass underneath delayed vocals before the dreamy chords and twinkling keys of "Way Back Then" close out the B-side.

The gorgeous "Air We Breathe (Revisited Cassette Demo)" marries rolling percussion across live bass and softly drawn out pads, followed by an instrumental version of "Break Free". The final side of vinyl sees the extended trippiness of "If It's All In Your Mind Let It Out" lead into the floaty low tempo closer "Hallucinations Ejaculations".

Out of dark times and obscurity rose the creative spirits from within, then came Raw Tones...
Joaquin Joe Claussell (March 2021)

Joaquin Joe Claussell, a co-founder of Body & Soul with Francois Kervorkian and Danny Krivit, continues to run his Sacred Rhythm Music record label and curate the Cosmic Arts community center in his hometown of Brooklyn, NYC.

Joaquin Joe Claussell - Raw Tones
Release Date June 2021
Label Rekids

Tracklist
A1. Lock Down
A2. The Blame Game (Table Top Idea)
B1. Break Free
B2. You Mutha Fuka
B3. Way Back Then
C1. Air We Breathe (Revisited Cassette Demo)
C2. Break Free (Instrumental)
D1. If It’s All in Your Mind Let It Out
D2. Hallucination Ejaculation

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