About the album

Raph Dumas brings the two strands of his musical heritage together with this innovative album entitled Coblism. On the one hand there is the traditional music of Catalunya, the music of his heritage, which is in his blood. On the other, there is modern electronic music, to which he has dedicated his life as a DJ and producer. Coblism is the meeting of both, an album that swells with the tradition and pride of the cobla (the traditional Catalan band), but also works on the modern dancefloor. It is Raph’s personal reading of the cobla sound, from the perspective of a modern DJ.

Unlike the Primaveras project, solely a ‘live’ affair, where Raph put together his own cobla and recorded them, this is a studio affair.  This album features samples from 1950s vinyl recordings of different coblas’, studio sessions with the Primaveras and Sardanas (traditional dances, where the music is provided by a cobla) that Raph has written himself. This traditional music is combined with the type of beats and grooves you would expect to find on an album of electronic music. Coblism is therefore a unique beast, celebrating both two centuries of traditional Catalan music and modern electronic music culture. On the face of it, this may seem like a strange meeting of cultures and ideas. However, it is not, because the basic role of both the cobla and the modern DJ or electronic music producer is the same: they wish to make you dance. Raph believes there are parallels between the sardana and breakdancing, as both are street dances. He envisages live performances of the album to feature break dancing and traditional sardanas.

The album features Oscar Dalmau, who speaks on the Outro Lliure. Dalmau is a famous TV and Radio presenter in Catalunya. He also DJs as Phil Musical and has made a number of Catalonian pop compilations. Raph’s daughter, Lou, also features on this track. Another guest, celebrated French musician, Pascal Comelade, has supplied the painting on the cover. Comelade is better known for his musical exploits than his paintings, having worked with the likes of PJ Harvey and Robert Wyatt. He has an extensive discography and released his first album in the mid 1970s. However, his artwork should not be underestimated, as this striking album cover shows.

About Raph Dumas

During the last 15 years, Raph Dumas has done it all.  He counts record shop owner, label manager, DJ, stage performer and producer as his occupation. He has been a professional record spinner for over a decade and a half. His dedication behind the decks has given him the opportunity to spin records all over mainland Europe and beyond.

Raph Dumas made the logical step to become a producer and set up the Enjoy and Lace imprints, which were the first independent dance music labels in the Catalunya. More recently, he has recorded with famous musician Pascal Comelade and co-produced Renaud Papillon Paravel’s third album. Dumas started The Primaveras project to celebrate the music of his grandfather and his Catalonian heritage. On record, they released the acclaimed Ode To Tanguy Jo album in 2009 on Enjoy Recordings and two sought after 7 inch singles. The group’s music was taken to heart in Catalunya, where it can be heard on radio. Dumas put together an orchestra named La Cobla Mil.Lenaria, who have played at festivals such as Transmusicales in Rennes.

Despite involvement in other musical spheres, Raph Dumas has never neglected DJing or club culture. In 2009, he put out Multi-Electronics and A Rare Toy on Lace Recordings. In 2010 he released The Greatest Funk Of Your Life, which reflects his ability to give you an orgasmic experience on the dancefloor. Coblism is therefore the next logical step for Raph Dumas, combining elements of both his musical past and present.

Coblism track by track

Simple beats, cobla crescendos and diminuendos and wobbly synths feature on Nacions (01). Biomimétisme (02) is a battle between breakbeats and strings. The bass and long instrumental lines loom large on Smoking Cobla (03). A hypnotising melody characterises La Principal d’En Valenti (04). Breaks de la Réal (05) is an exciting percussive number, which features layer upon layer of musical goodness. The brass finds its voice on Mentre Muntanyes (06), albeit in a slightly twisted way. Bernardi (07) is a gorgeous number that features recordings of nature, touching keys and regimented cobla instrumentation.  It is hard not to be moved by the cobla melody on Al Zurich (08), which is backed by understanding beats. A fat bassline and woozy grooves dominate Abelles Borratxes (09). Keys and traditional instrumentation of the cobla dance together in perfect harmony on Ball de Nit (10). Lou sings L’Estaca (a Catalonian revolutionary anthem) and Oscar Dalmau speaks out against the music industry on Outro Lliure (11), which brings the album to a close.

Release info

artist/project RAPH DUMAS

title Coblism

cat.nr MAD009 (Marendadisc/Discmedi)

credits

• written, produced and performed by Raphaël Dumas.
• (11) performed by Oscar Dalmau & Lou Dumas
• with some samples from The Primaveras, Cobla Mil.lenaria
• Mastering by Luis Mazoni
• published by Melmax Music
• artwork by Pascal Comelade / graphic design by Graphic66
• All rights reserved. A Marendadisc / Discmedi production

distribution

Discmedi - http://discmedi.com/ - atencionalcliente@discmedi.com

more info

• www.myspace.com/raphdumas
• www.myspace.com/raphdumastheprimaveras
• www.myspace.com/enjoyrecordings
• www.theprimaveras.net
• www.raphaeldumas.com
• www.marendadisc.com

Sobre l’àlbum

Raph Dumas presenta juntes les dues vessants de la seva herència musical en aquest àlbum innovador titulat Coblism. D’una banda la música tradicional de Catalunya, la música que ha heretat, i que és dins la seva sang. De l’altra la música electrònica, a la que s’ha dedicat tota la vida com a DJ i productor. Coblism és el punt de trobada d’ambdues, un àlbum que sintonitza amb la tradició i l’orgull de la cobla, però que també funciona a les pistes de ball modernes. És la lectura personal del Raph del so de la cobla, des de la perspectiva d’un DJ modern.

A diferència del projecte Primaveras, un projecte exclusivament de directe, on en Raph va reunir la seva propia cobla i la va enregistrar, aquest és un projecte d’estudi. Aquest àlbum presenta mostres de vinils del 1950 amb gravacions de diferents cobles, sessions d’estudi amb els Primaveras, y sardanes que ha escrit el propi Raph. La música tradicional es combina amb el tipus de beats i grooves que es poden trobar en un àlbum de música electrònica. Coblism és per tant una espècie única, que celebra a la vegada dues centúries de música tradicional catalana y la cultura de la música electrònica moderna. A primer cop d’ull pot semblar una estranya trobada de cultures i idees. No obstant no ho és, perquè el paper bàsic tant de la cobla com del DJ modern o del productor de músicas electrònica és el mateix: Desitgen fer-te ballar. En Raph creu que hi ha paral.lelismes entre la sardana i el breakdance, ja que ambdós són balls de carrer. Ell s’imagina interpretacions en directe de l’àlbum on es presenten juntsa el breakdance i les sardanes tradicionals.

L’àlbum presenta a Oscar Dalmau, que parla al tema Outro Lliure.  Dalmau és un famós presentador de Ràdio i Televisío a Catalunya. També ha fet de DJ a Phil Musical i ha fet diversos recopilatoris de pop català. La germana d’en Raph, Lou, també apareix en el mateix tall. Un altre convidat, l’aclamat músic nordcatalà Pascal Comelade, ha proporcionat el quadre de la coberta. Comelade és més conegut pels seus èxits musicals que per les seves pintures, i ha col.laborat amb artistes com PJ Harvey i Robert Wyatt. Té una extensa discografia i va editar el seu primer àlbum a meitat dels 70. Per altra banda les seves obres d’art no es poden subestimar, tal com demostra la impactant coberta de l’àlbum.

Sobre Raph Dumas

Durant els darrers 15 anys, Raph Dumas ha fet de tot. Ha estat propietari d’una botiga de discos, director d’un segell discogràfic, DJ, intèrpret als escenaris i productor musical. Ha estat DJ profesional durant una dècada i mitja. Aquesta dedicació als plats li ha proporcionat l’oportunitat de punxar discos a la majoria dels principals països europeus i molts d’altres.

Raph Dumas va fer el lògic pas per convertir-se en productor y llançar els segells Enjoy i Lace, que van ser els primers segells independents de música dance a la Catalunya Nord. Més recentment ha gravat i mesclat amb el famós músic Pascal Comelade i ha coproduit el tercer disc de Renaud Papillon Paravel. Dumas va posar en marxa el projecte Primaveras per homenatjar la música del seu avi y la seva herència catalana. Discogràficament, va editat l’aclamat àlbum Ode to Tanguy Jo l’any 2009 amb Enjoy Recordings, en format CD & LP. La música del grup ha arribat al cor de catalunya on es pot escoltar a la ràdio. Aiximateix, Dumas ha reunit una orquestra anomenada la Cobla Mil.lenària, que ha actuat a festivals tan prestigiosos com el Transmusicales de Rennes.

Malgrat la seva implicasció en altres esferes musicals, Raph dumas mai no ha deixat de banda la seva feina com a DJ i la cultura de club. El 2009 va editar Multi-Electronics i A Rare Toy amb Lace Recordings. El 2010 va publicar The Greatest Funk Of Your Life, que reflexa la seva habilitat per proporcionar una experiència orgàsmica a la pista de ball. Coblism es per tant la segúent passa lògica de Raph Dumas, que combina elements tant del seu passat musical com del seu present.