Native Rebel Recordings
Confucius MC & Bastien Keb - Songs For Lost Travellers Confucius MC & Bastien Keb
South London rapper Confucius MC returns to Shabaka Hutchings’ Native Rebel Recordings for a new project alongside producer and multi-instrumentalist Bastien Keb. Merging unexplored pathways between rap, folk, and jazz into a spiritual triumvirate, Songs For Lost Travellers, set for release on February 7th 2025, is an album unlike any either artist has made previously, possibly unlike any record in existence.
Honest and direct, the duo imbue Songs For Lost Travellers with knowledge and truth from their lived experiences. There is grief hidden in the notes, an inherent sadness that is balanced with an awareness that grief is a protest against the social machinery of remaining numb. The record lingers in a meditative state, unafraid of restlessness and embracing solitude, with the expectation that peace is just as imminent as death.
Neither Con nor Keb bothered much with the professional studio in making Songs For Lost Travellers. Instead, they opted for the raw state of their home recordings and first takes, matching the intimacy of being alone and reflective in their creative energies. Room static on ‘Tell Me Lies’ makes it feel like you’ve entered their apartments. The immediacy continues on ‘Gutters’, as Keb plays guitar while watching the tele and Con hums along to the vocal melody in search of the proper pocket for his verse.
More drawn to Keb’s recent folk recordings on the Songs For Lilla EP than his funk roots circa Dinking In The Shadows of Zizou or the cinematic soul of The Killing of Eugene Peeps, Con leaned into the spacial freedom he heard in Keb’s lo-fi production cobbled from field recordings and voice notes. Both artists placed their families into the tableau; Con wrote ‘Little Man’ for his son, hoping to add a positive contribution to the canon of parental rap songs. Later, his son appears at the end of ‘Paramount’ to deliver a passage from Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet. Keb secretly recorded his mum playing saxophone and sampled his cousin playing sax as well. The result is a near-drumless album (save for ‘Toulouse’ and light tapping on ‘It Would Speak’) in which Keb’s raw production (plus a few sessions with Kofi Flexxx on flute) gave Con a liminal zone, unencumbered by beats per minute, to craft melodies that turn his philosophical rhymes into mantras.
About Confucius MC:
Hailing from South London, Con has been immersed in UK hip hop since the early 2000s and spent over a decade as an educator in a primary school running a successful Rap Club, where he’d bring artists like Speakers Corner Quartet to give masterclasses. In 2013, Con was the support of choice for Mos Def and has previously performed alongside UK hip hop stalwart Jehst and longstanding friend Kae Tempest.
About Bastien Keb:
Based in Royal Leamington Spa, Keb (born Sebastian Jones) is a producer, songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who draws comparisons with the likes of Thundercat, J Dilla and Flying Lotus. In 2015, he announced his debut album Dinking in the Shadows of Zizou before releasing The Killing of Eugene Peeps, an imaginary soundtrack with inspiration from Giallo (Italian thriller-horrors), French New Wave and '70s crime films which received widespread praise and describing him as “one of the most exciting musicians emanating out of London” (DMY).
TRACKLIST
1. Tell Me Lies (feat. Kofi Flexxx)
2. Fairytale (feat. Kofi Flexxx)
3. Time Will Come
4. It Would Speak (feat. Kofi Flexxx)
5. Little Man
6. Lemon Zest (feat. Kofi Flexxx)
7. Question Or Consume
8. Gutters
9. Paramount
10. Bonsai (feat. Mark Millington)
11. Lattice of Confidence
12. Eyes To See
13. Toulouse
14. Care About (feat. Zemora Amour)
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Product information
Postage Policy
Phoenix Sound Introductory Offer Policy: 99p Postage (UK Only)
Effective Date: Live date
Expiration Date: Reviewed after 6 months
Eligibility
- Who is Eligible: This offer is open to all customers purchasing through the Phoenix Sounds’ Shopify website during the promotional period.
- Purchase Limit: Each customer is entitled to discounted postage on up to two (2) vinyl records.
- Usage Limit: One use per customer. Multiple orders from the same customer may not receive the discounted rate.
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1. Promotional Period
- (a) The 99p postage offer is valid from live date to review in 6 months.
- (b) Orders placed before or after this period will not be eligible for discounted postage.
2. Purchase Conditions
- (a) The offer applies only to vinyl records.
- (b) Maximum of two (2) vinyl records per customer at the discounted postage rate.
- (c) Additional items will incur standard shipping charges.
3. Shipping Details
- (a) The 99p postage rate applies to standard shipping within the United Kingdom (UK) only.
- (b) Shipping times may vary based on the delivery address within the UK.
- (c) This offer is not applicable to international deliveries or expedited shipping options.
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- (b) If items are returned that reduce the original purchase to fewer than two (2) vinyl records, Phoenix Sounds reserves the right to adjust the shipping charges accordingly.
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- (a) For inquiries or assistance, please contact our customer service team at:
- (i) Email: Roger@phoenix-sounds.co.uk
- (ii) Phone: 01626 334942
- (iii) Address: 6 Pearl Assurance House, Queen Street, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 2AQ
Returns Policy
At Phoenix Sounds, we aim to ensure our customers are completely satisfied with their purchases. If, for any reason, you are not happy with your purchase, you may return it under the terms outlined below.
1. Timeframe
We have a 14 day returns policy. You must inform us within 14 days then return the item or items within 14 days to get a full refund.
2. Condition of the item
The item being returned is generally expected to be in its original condition unless it is defective or damaged. This means that it should be unused, undamaged, and in its original packaging with all the included accessories and documentation.
3. Proof of purchase
We require proof of purchase, such as a receipt or order number, to process a return. This helps confirm that the item was purchased from their store and within the specified timeframe.
4. Refund method
Returns policies typically outline the available refund methods. You will receive a refund in the original form of payment within the 14 days deadline. Over 14 days and up to 30 days, store credit would be offered depending on the circumstances.
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In all cases, the customer will be responsible for covering the cost of return shipping, especially for online purchases, unless deemed by the owner due to unforeseen circumstances.
6. Exceptions and restrictions
Returns policies often include information about certain items that may be non-returnable, such as final sale items, perishable goods, or personalized products. Additionally, there may be restrictions on returning opened software, CDs, DVDs, or downloadable content due to copyright concerns.
FAQs
Do you post abroad?
Yes! As well as delivering across the UK, we ship to Europe, the USA, Canada, and Australia. If you're unsure whether we deliver to your location, please [contact us](link to contact page), and we’ll be happy to help.
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Can I return or exchange an item?
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