John Beltran / Sunrise And The life We Live / Music For Dreams

John Beltran’s “Ten Days Of Blue” was released 30 years ago. Commissioned by Music For Dreams’ Kenneth Bager, “Sunrise And The life We Live” is its spiritual successor. During the 3 decades that have passed, Beltran has remained prolific and forward facing, working with many labels and experimenting in a wide range of musical genres. However, his remit here was to specifically revisit the tone and texture of his classic sophomore album. The title track, and other numbers, such as “Éire”, in particular, pay tribute to this template. Quiet, introspective electronica constructed from chiming, computerised counterpoint, rippling repeats and loops. Racing, rivers of sounds like gamelan gongs. Dancing, darting. Full of fidgeting energy. “The Watering” begins in a similar fashion, but its sonic spirals of clipped, kalimba-like keys build to cathartic cymbal crashes and West Coast-esque harmonies. Eventually riding a Peter Hook B-line. “Ikebana” stirs some smoky sax into its mix of…