Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
Ben Watt hit the pause button on his longstanding and respected electronic label Buzzin’ Fly in 2013 to make room for his own recent creative resurgence as a solo artist (the award-winning Hendra album released on his new imprint Unmade Road through Caroline) and writer (his memoir Romany and Tom was long-listed for the
prestigious Samuel Johnson Prize 2014), but on November 17 he reactivates the label for a special one-off release.
Arriving as a specially designed limited double-vinyl edition, the Golden Ratio EP features reworks of “Golden Ratio” and “Nathaniel,” two stand-out tracks from the Hendra album, by Charles Webster and Ewan Pearson. Webster delivers two throbbing deep house reinventions and one sweetened Balearic retouch of the original mix of “Golden Ratio,” while Pearson goes for vibrant New York-style re-edits of “Nathaniel.”
The artwork is designed as ever by John Gilsenan at iwantdesign, adding to the very collectible string of sleeves by the designer released by the label. Release day also sees Unmade Road separating out the tracks from the vinyl version into two stand-alone digital EPs.
This December, Watt will head stateside for a string of solo dates across the US including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, Austin, Indianapolis, Atlanta, and New York. Tickets for all shows will go on sale this Friday, October 17th. Please visit benwatt.com for more details.
This summer, Watt’s Hendra was named “Best ‘Difficult’ 2nd Album” at the AIM (Association of Independent Music) Awards 2014, where he was up against Anna Calvi and Blood Orange among others. The album earned widespread 4 star reviews from Mojo, Q, Uncut, The Guardian, and many more.
Ann Powers of NPR Music said, “Ben Watt is a master of detail and of quietude… Now, with his first solo album in 31 years, he has returned to highly cultured, intimate song craft.” In Rolling Stone, James Hunter said, “The songs occupy their own modern spaces with a raging peacefulness.”
