RELEASED: November 14, 2023
ARTIST: ELIJAH MINNELLI
LABEL: ZamZam Sounds
CATALOGUE NUMBER: ZAMZAM93
ELIJAH MINNELLI: GRADUALLY B/W GRADUALLY VERZION

For the past few years we’ve been mesmerized by Elijah Minnelli’s output on his own Breadminster County Council label… a handful of hand-crafted 7”s that live at the foggy intersection of dub, outsider folk, and various strands of Eastern European and South/Central American musics. It now seems inevitable that he would join the ZamZam family.

Firmly rooted in dub through its mammoth bassline, ‘Gradually’ is a shaggy, unhurried tune framed by melancholy, almost grieving squeezebox and gorgeous ensemble percussion that reverently recalls early cumbias. The tune is unique for Elijah in that it features fully-sung vocals. Themes of loss, despair, tragedy and coping circle and loop, ironically held in a musical matrix that spirals in deliberate repetion.

In ‘Gradually Verzion’ the introduction of a minimal melody and long echo trails signal a dramatic shift, going full dubwise steppers without compromising its warm center.  Elijah holds back the wheezy melodics, deftly forwarding the percussion in time-honored echo chamber mode.

Strictly limited to 700 copies for the world. No digital, no repress. Art, design & screen print by Polygon Press. Mastered by Sam at Precise, Pressed at Third Man. Shipping late October/early November, 2023.

2014 JamSession © All rights reserved.