Press Releases

TRACK LISTING:

1. LOTOS EATERS

2. KEY (ISA GT’S BARA REMIX)

3. LOTOS EATERS (NEVILLE WATSON REMIX)

4. LOTOS EATERS (JUSTIN HARRIS REMIX)

5. WESTCHESTER BABY*

*Bonus Track (not on vinyl)

“To dream and dream… To hear each other’s whisper’d speech…

To muse and brood and live again in memory…”

Don’t Be Afraid is proud to present the third outing from Benjamin Semtek on the label. Lotos Eaters is based around a reading of the Alfred Tennyson poem of the same name. A group of mariners encounter an island where the lotos flower grows in abundance. They make a pact with each other to abandon their lives at home and remain on the island eating lotos flowers in deference to their responsibilities. The poem describes their brotherhood as they abandon the world. Semtek’s version winds the verse round a bleepy UK acid house backing track accompanied by snappy drums and melodies.

Remixes come from Neville Watson and Justin Harris. Neville Watson was one of the original residents of seminal Reading night Checkpoint Charlie alongside Mat Carter. He recorded on his own Mighty Atom imprint under guises such as Lovejuice, Strobefunk (with Sam Gillett), Elektric Suedehead (with Sid Burr) and Midnight Steppers (with Alex Martin), before recently hooking up with KiNK to release on Amsterdam’s cult Rush Hour label. Neville’s mix is a thing of extreme ethereal beauty, a slow jam that takes the listener on a night flight through delicate 505 drums and swirling analogue riffs.

Justin Harris’ illustrious musical career kicked off way back in 1987 when he was a regular DJ at the first pioneering Acid House events in the UK. He later went on form Freaks with Luke Solomon, and runs his own label, Paranoid, with Classic label mate Lil’ Mark. Justin Harris takes the hypnotic approach, a huge bassline and big drums with a single tension-building drop make this an ideal big room warmer.

The final track on the vinyl is a remix of ‘Key’ (from DBA001), by artist Isa GT.  Isa is part of the exciting !WOWOW! art collective, as well as creator and resident of the infamous nights *GIRLCORE* and Musicalia, which she has taken around the world.  This year she released her debut EP, which will include remixes by Italian top dogs Crookers, and the great Funk Carioca talent Joao Brasil.  Isa's eclectic taste shows on this rmx as she has taken a crazy direction from the original track, bringing percussion and horns to create a relentless atmosphere and even featuring herself on vocals.

In addition, a bonus Semtek exclusive is included, which will not be included on the vinyl. The title Westchester Baby should lend a clue as to the track that has been covered here!