Altered Zones

Last Fall, 20 Jazz Funk Greats spotlighted "The Coptic Sun," a horizontally unfolding synthesis of Vangelis-era New Age and Hillage guitar stylings that had been deposited in the blog's inbox by a mysterious Uruguan entity called International Feel. Turns out that the track was somewhat mislabeled: International Feel is not a band, but an imprint, and "The Coptic Sun" is a missive from IFEEL Studio, a project from label head/producer Mark B, who records out of his studio in Punta Del Este. On July 18th, International Feel will release a follow-up, IFeel Studio 002, a limited edition, two-track 12" that Mark described as a Skype collaboration with "Richard Hawley's band, a reclusive Mittle European synthesist, and his eccentric and slightly mad, octogenarian lawyer"-- whatever that means. A-Side "Morgengruss III," below, is a chill-out room reincarnation of Popol Vuh's "Morgengruss II," which you may remember from Herzog's 1972 film, Aguirre, the Wrath of God. Pretty much impossible to top the original in the bliss department, though IFEEL Studio's beats add a shot of conviction. -- Emilie Friedlander, Visitation Rites

International Feel: "Morgengruss III"

IFeel Studio 002 drops July 18th from International Feel, and will be available from Phonica Records, Juno Records, Picadilly Records, and other online stores