Font de la Vera Pau

Set for release via Modern Obscure Music in October, Raül Refree and Pedro Vian will soon unveil their highly anticipated collaborative debut album - "Font de la Vera Pau.” Two creative minds from the Barcelona avant-garde music scene, the pair combine on a boundary-pushing release that oozes with artistic vision and creative genius. The album, simmered slowly and in complete complicity, showcases a strong musical connection interwoven in each of its nine compositions. A grand piano, a synthesizer, 10 and a positive organ engage in a dialogue that breathes life into a hypnotic universe with psychedelic and minimalist nuances. Effortlessly merging a diverse array of influences, “Font de la Vera Pau" invites us on a transcendental and reflective journey. The pair allow space for the spirituality of cosmic jazz figures like Alice Coltrane and Sun Ra, the enveloping ambient soundscapes of Japan’s Haruomi Hosono and Hiroshi Yoshimura, and the meditative minimalism of Steve Reich or Terry Riley. Raül Refree is one of the most acclaimed and versatile Spanish producers of the last decade. Always fascinated by traditional music, Raul has become a reference point for new flamenco in his homeland, working alongside the likes of Rosalía, Rocío Márquez and Niño de Elche, and upcoming names like Rodrigo Cuevas or Guitarricadelafuente. Having produced Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth’s last 3 albums, his presence in the band’s Echo Canyon West studio is palpable, also working with Sharon Van Etten, Nels Cline and Kid Millions amongst others. Truly an integral part of the current New York scene. Raül’s critically acclaimed 2020 release with Portuguese singer Lina was praised by Pitchfork and was voted album of the year by the European Broadcasting Union. A year later his work for Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin earned him a pair of Latin Grammys, while more recent projects include collaborations with singers Rokia Koné and Maria Mazzotta, and ongoing preparations for his debut as a theatre director next year. Forever pushing sonic boundaries, Raül has also found time to release eleven albums under his own name, acclaimed movie soundtracks and a discography spanning multiple genres. Pedro Vian is a renowned Catalan artist who has released three solo albums (“Beautiful Things You Left Us For Memories,” “Pedro Vian” and “Ibillorca”) and a collection of singles on his Modern Obscure Music imprint – a multi-disciplinary platform based on deep listening and music research. The ‘PRSNT’ compilation, which Pedro curated in 2021 and featured Laurie Spiegel, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Visible Cloaks, received support from Pitchfork, Crack, Brooklyn Vegan, The Quietus, The Wire and Metal. Pedro has been remixed by Inga Copeland and Pye Corner Audio, and has recorded mixes for of Bleep, Self-Titled and Juno Daily. After presenting their immersive live set at Sonar Festival, Pedro released ‘Cascades’ with Piedmont-born composer and producer Mana last November. A frequent juxtaposition of his elegant productions, the unsettling tone of the record is often heavenly on the ears. The embers "Font de la Vera Pau” began burning back in 2020, when Pedro returned to Barcelona after a two-year stint of living in Amsterdam. Fast-forward three years and it stands as a milestone in contemporary music, solidifying Raül Refree and Pedro Vian’s position as audacious and visionary creators who defy convention.