Pelegrin to Release Al-Mahruqa Sept. 13; Streaming “Majoun”
With a meld of heavy post-rock and Eastern-inflected psychedelia, Parisian trio Pelegrin will self-release their debut album, Al-Mahruqa, on Sept. 13. I happen to know that the song they’re streaming from it, “Majoun,” is the opening track both because I can see the tracklisting below and I’ve got the record on while I’m writing this — first listen — and thank you very much its warm melodies, patient psych songcraft and immersive stylistic blend is hitting the spot nicely. It’s a first record, fair enough, but clearly one made with aesthetic intent and a ready sense of spaciousness, as the three-piece go exploring through not just “Majoun,” but the expansive rollout of “Farewell” and the progressive drift of “Home Again,” balancing longer and shorter pieces off each other as they make their way through “Dying Light” toward the closing title-track. Immersion is the idea and Pelegrin provide plenty of depth for it. I’m looking forward to getting to know Al-Mahruqa better.
The PR wire brings album details and the aforementioned stream:
Psych rock adventurers PELEGRIN share details about imposing debut album “Al-Mahruqa”, out September 13th on digital.
The bazaar crowd hails, haggles, ruffles. Life at its most, screeching and hustling. Gradually, the ruckus fades away. In the vacuum that’s created, a bass roars, answers its own call. A guitar string vibrates endlessly. The note hangs on ominously, then slips up. Percussions soar and the engine starts running… The listener’s fate is sealed. No turning back; he is bound for a 42 minutes-long sonic tale. He will follow the footsteps of an ailing war veteran, from the bazaar of Tangier to a millenary temple, carved into the rock at the very end of a desert valley: Al-Mahruqa.
On the way, the listener will encounter mesmerizing ambiances. Melodies soaked with eastern influences. Rock-solid riffs. Unsettling songs, always on the move. References, wink, nods? Of course. But no obvious comparison will jump to mind. If the power trio PELEGRIN (“pilgrim” in ancient French) roams the lands of stoner, prog and heavy psych, it is with the intention of making a few steps into the unknown. What drove François (guitar/vocals/production), Jason (bass) and Antoine (drums) is the will to play the music that they would have liked to hear. To fill a tiny space that seemed vacant in the ever-expanding galaxy of distorted music.
The road to “Al-Mahruqa” was long and winding, covering almost five years. The creation of its followup should be a smoother affair… And PELEGRIN is already hard at work on it. Where the three friends are the most comfortable: in their own bubble, away from stages. Where ideas fly, sweet smoke rises, and stories are written.
“Al-Mahruqa” was recorded and mixed by François Roze. It was mastered by Kent Stump (Wo Fat) at Crystal Clear Sound. The artwork was designed by Hadrien Virima.
Tracklisting:
1. Majoun
2. Farewell
3. The Coldest Night
4. Dying Light
5. Al-Mahruqa
PELEGRIN is
François Roze – guitar, vocals
Jason Recoing – bass
Antoine Ebel – drums, percussions
https://www.facebook.com/PelegrinMusic/
https://pelegrinmusic.bandcamp.com
