Destination New Zealand: a veritable Graceland, Nirvana and Mecca all rolled into one for DJs over the last two years, a gorgeous place of natural beauty and kindred spirits and the source of inspiration for these two wonderful new cuts from UK maestro Josh Butler.
Returning to Joris Voorn and Edwin Oosterwal's Rejected for the first time since summer 2020, Josh comes packing with two beguiling tracks and two amazing stories, all brought together with one very loose nautical theme.
'Shipwreck' is inspired by the scenes, sounds and souls at the boutique festival Shipwrecked in Auckland. A subtle harmonic jam that marches for days and days, it hits with a sweet Weatherallian cosmicity that's always lurking in the corner of your eye or whispering in your ear but never ever goes overboard.
'Tsunami' takes us deeper out to sea with its unrelenting kicks and warm-but-tense dubby pressure. This one takes inspiration from a trip that began as a wholesome picnic with Josh and his brother on New Zealand's North Island, but it ended with a tsunami warning due to an earthquake 100 miles out to sea. Luckily all danger was avoided, and the tsunami never hit. But the music it inspired definitely hits us.
Two tales, two tracks, one serious trip. Josh Butler does it again. Bon voyage.
