We first heard Juha Mäki-Patola's music when the fine folks at Seattle's Hush Hush Records sent us his full-length debut, Breath, last fall. Unfortunately, DC was a bit too late to write about it, but we did cover two other excellent Hush Hush releases in November. Still, Breath stayed with us. It felt like we missed an opportunity to bring attention to a truly beautiful album.
So you can imagine our excitement when the label reached out once again to partner on a premiere. It turns out that Juha Mäki-Patola is releasing a three-song EP on February 19th, titled Waves. It is a companion piece to Breath, taken from the the same recording sessions and flowing through a similar sonic vein. Though DC does not typically devote pieces to single songs, we have decided to cast that self-imposed rule aside and are very pleased to premiere track two of the EP (and our personal favorite): Steps.
About the track, the artist writes:
The idea of “Steps” is based on a low and deep pedal point that creates a solid ground for a repeated piano chord progression with rising synthesizers and effected strings. While I was composing and recording “Steps” I was inspired by the sub textures that are rising from the solid ground and opening up new paths to follow...
Hearing the track, you can really feel the deep drone providing a solid base, as the piano chords act as steps - one careful foot after another. Climbing or descending depends on perspective, so listen to Steps below and see what images come to you.
Again, Waves will be released on February 19th, and you can find it here. And another special thanks to both Hush Hush Records and Juha Mäki-Patola.
*Cover photo was taken by me at the top of some winding steps in Praia da Arrifana, Portugal in the summer of 2016 - just a few miles from Aljezur, coincidently, where Grouper recorded Ruins.