Track By Track: Moonee – Sandquest

The Groovence Discs founder has built a steady reputation for his approach to club cuts and a modern taken on House music but the release of the new record cements his place upon a new level.

We invited him to talk us through the record track by track…

Ouzo “Midnight Reveries”

As an opener, this track has a very late-night mood, with all the sense of freedom that comes with it. Like these mediterranean endless summer nights, with their promises of encounters and friendships. I found these little tiny pad sounds on the Korg, something that could envelop these drums while letting the wide rhythm keep the lead. It’s also the catchiest track of the selection to me.

Balagne “Eroded and Salty”

This one is dedicated to my fellow sea lovers! “Balagne” pays homage to the region of Corsica, where I spent much of my childhood. Its myriad desert landscapes and vast stretches of eroded rock imbue it with a rugged yet inspiring allure, a quality that resonates deeply with this piece. It’s introspective yet energetic, featuring bouncy chords and descending minor bass lines that add an enigmatic touch. Also little tribute to all the balearic side of House Music.

Light On Earth “Sun is Rising”

Upon my first listen to the final export, the concept of graduated light struck me. It mirrors the experience of witnessing the sunrise on a distant horizon, with beautiful beams of light piercing the sky, gradually illuminating the earth’s surface layer by layer. I conceived the piece as a cyclical movement, with drums and melodies gently rising before fading behind the interweaving of new elements. I also believe it to be the most club-friendly track on the album.

Black Roses “Quirky Duby Beats”

I’ve long admired this mutation of House style, which draws inspiration from IDM and Dub. It’s as though it has undergone a metamorphosis, retaining the genre’s core elements while infusing them with a darker, more introspective motif. Perhaps the quirkiest track on the album, with its hand-played broken drums aiming to maintain a human feel. It builds with a romantic yet slightly dangerous allure, slowly evolving and ultimately fading away.

Arcadie “Don’t Mess with the MPC”

Arcadie embodies a return to a wild state, drawing inspiration from the pastoral landscapes of this Greece region.
I made a deliberate decision not to stray far from my MPC. I love the idea that creativity often arises from a set limit or something imposed on me, like a challenge. The workflow of these old akais lends itself to maintaining a straightforward and no-frills feeling, with development occurring through sequences on the machine and without any additional digital processing. This approach gives the track its characteristic swing and rhythm.

Sandquest “Echoes from the Past”

I wanted to see if by resettling on the Mediterranean basin that has seen me grown. I could potentially reconnect with these forgotten sensations from my childhood and that it would have an impact (positive or otherwise) on my music.I believe Sandquest is indeed the one that is most inspired by this process. The delayed and dubby sounds it offers are like echoes of some experiencing a rare sense of peace and innocence encapsulated in our childhood memories, far away from the pressures of our adult life.

Evening World “8 minutes to reach us”

It takes approximately 8 minutes for light emitted by the Sun to reach us. If the Sun were to suddenly cease shining, we wouldn’t notice it until 8 minutes later. This track gradually unfolds this way, echoing the awakening of dawn, with layers of synth reinforcing the revelation of light. Initially subdued and almost lethargic, it sporadically develops before fading away like a distant memory. This piece presented numerous challenges, with intricate details and tension brought by layers of fading samples.

Abondance “Wrap-Up”

I wanted Abondance to be a closing track as well as a gateway to something different, blurring the line between techno and house schemes. That allows me to simplify the drum structure with a techno infused rhythm, and this bouncy acid line came to life while the main melody I’ve played on the Korg is also slowly rising. It blooms on this drop somewhat unexpectedly, like a contained explosion of all the emotional tension that has built up in the previous tracks. And at the end as a more peaceful conclusion to close this album. (Or so, I hope)

Buy the release HERE.