London/Edinburgh duo Leonidas & Hobbes release a new EP, ‘Aranath’, via Hobbes Music.

It’s the label’s 15th release, following up Jacksonville’s ‘FON’ EP and Gaming’s debut album, ‘Scenes From A Deserted City’.

Available on 12″ vinyl as well as digitally, the physical version of ‘Aranath’ was funded by a Kickstarter campaign, which reached its target in a fortnight. The vinyl version is scheduled to be available on April 16th.

The seven track release is the first new Leonidas & Hobbes material in three years, after ‘Web Of Intrigue’ (taken from third EP ‘The Rags Of Time’) which was voted No. 1 in Bill Brewster’s 2017 DJ History poll.

‘Aranath’ features multi-instrumentalist Riad Abji on cello and tanpura raga, which inspired the duo to create four mixes, combining Abji’s Eastern lament with classic house and ambient techno.

Also featured on the extended player are ‘Into It’ and ‘Out Of It’ and a previously unreleased ambient mix of ‘Web of Intrigue’.

The record’s sleeve art was inspired by a 19th Century Indian Jain painting (front cover) and created over the course of many obsessive evenings at the height of lockdown (as was some of the audio).

The duo said of their latest work: “Needless to say, the whole project has helped to keep everyone sane through these crazy months…

Previously the duo released debut EP ‘Machines, Tapes & Electronic Setups’ via the Hobbes Music label in May 2013, and were consequently commissioned to remix the Pet Shop Boys’ 2013 hit single, Vocal.

They then put out second EP ‘Mo’ Machines‘ on the label in April 2014, followed up by ‘Rags Of Time’.

Riad Abji cut his teeth with Paul Frankland’s chill out project, Woob, on their cult 1995 album Woob² 4495 (Em:t), their collaborations subsequently morphing into Journeyman (Ntone) and Max & Harvey (Ninja Tune). He has also worked extensively in the live arena as part of flamenco fusion outfit Fernando’s Kitchen, oud-led North African fusion group Karama, as well as alongside reggae/soul artist Nakisha Esnard (aka ENNÉ) and folk artist Stuart O’Connor.

Leonidas has released three other collaborative EPs with London-based Japanese DJ/producer Kay Suzuki via his Round In Motion imprint (and recently had a track from their debut licensed to the The Sound Of Mercury Rising Vol. II compilation by world-renown DJ Harvey), plus a solo recording via YAM Records’ You And Music Volume 1 EP and the Baby Powder 12” with Dokta (20:20 Vision).

Leonidas also has his own lovetoparty label, releasing edits of much-loved disco tunes on limited edition 12″ vinyl format and free download. and throwing word-of-mouth parties around east London on his audiophile ‘lovetoparty’ sound system

Hobbes ran the widely acclaimed Trouble nights for ten years in Edinburgh and championed up-and-coming live talent via his Limbo ‘gig-in-a-club’ nights at The Voodoo Rooms for nine years (est. ’07).

The Hobbes Music label has otherwise featured artists as diverse as Auntie Flo, JD Twitch (Optimo), Neil Landstrumm, Craig Smith (6th Borough Project), Joe Howe, Debukas, and Nightwave.

TRACKLIST
1: Into It
2: Aranatha (Beatless Mix) [AMBIENT]
3: Aranath (Original Mix)
4: Web Of Intrigue (Long Haul Mix) [AMBIENT]
5: Ara (Club Mix)
6: Out Of It [AMBIENT]
7: Aranath (Edit)

More at hobbesmusic.co.uk and www.facebook.com/hobbes.music.