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Clay Kin
Vevey
Squama - Cat No: SQM034
- updated:2026-06-16
The percussion and electronics reveal influences from various forms of folk music. The track titles appear to correspond to the compass directions of the recording locations. Recorded primarily outdoors in the depths of mountains and forests through improvisation, the music blends field recordings—such as birdsong, the murmur of water, and children’s chatter—to create a vibrant, fresh, and captivating sound. Be sure to give it a thorough listen.
Track List
Swiss percussionist Julian Sartorius and UK electronic artist Dan Nicholls team up as Clay Kin, presenting their debut record on Squama.
They had never planned to make an album yet through pure improvisation and spontaneity, Clay Kin have crafted Vevey. An album of seven tracks, distilled from over seven hours of improvised percussion and electronics. Recorded mostly outdoors––on pedalo boats, up mountains and deep in forests near the namesake Swiss town of Vevey, it is imbued with the soft fascination of birdsong, rushing water and chattering children.
Vevey resists genre. As musicians, Sartorius and Nicholls bridge the divide between acoustic and electronic soundscapes. Sartorius’ raw, organic percussion interweaves with Nicholls’ keyboard-triggered samples and harmonic landscapes, creating a dialogue where the lines between rhythm, melody and noise dissolve. Clay Kin identify their outfit as an audio-visual collective, with visual artist Lou Zon (Louise Boer) rounding out the group, creating videos to accompany both the recorded music and the live experience.
They had never planned to make an album yet through pure improvisation and spontaneity, Clay Kin have crafted Vevey. An album of seven tracks, distilled from over seven hours of improvised percussion and electronics. Recorded mostly outdoors––on pedalo boats, up mountains and deep in forests near the namesake Swiss town of Vevey, it is imbued with the soft fascination of birdsong, rushing water and chattering children.
Vevey resists genre. As musicians, Sartorius and Nicholls bridge the divide between acoustic and electronic soundscapes. Sartorius’ raw, organic percussion interweaves with Nicholls’ keyboard-triggered samples and harmonic landscapes, creating a dialogue where the lines between rhythm, melody and noise dissolve. Clay Kin identify their outfit as an audio-visual collective, with visual artist Lou Zon (Louise Boer) rounding out the group, creating videos to accompany both the recorded music and the live experience.
From the cutting-edge German label Squama Recordings, where avant-garde jazz and electronic music intersect, comes the debut release from Clay Kin—a project featuring Swiss percussionist Julian Sartorius (who has participated in numerous sessions, including those with ECM’s Colin Vallon, as well as Valentina Magaletti and Herbert) and UK electronic music artist Dan Nicholls (who has collaborated with We Jazz and others). ECM’s Colin Vallon, among many others, and UK electronic music artist Dan Nicholls—who has joined forces with We Jazz and others—in the project Clay Kin. A wonderful album. Now back in stock. 180g heavyweight gray colored vinyl. (Original Japanese text by Saito)