john beltran: para viajeros
Francisco Espregueira
With a career spanning for over 3 decades, John Beltran is a name that goes deep into many spaces inside the endless spectrum of dance and electronic music. His accomplishments, through different aliases, as a music maker and sonic visionary are there for all to see. Beltran’s journey can be revisted through the beautiful records he released, with chapter 1 seeped in the traditions of Detroit techno, whilst chapters 2 and beyond have seen him operate in a wide variety of musical circles. Constantly evolving his sound, Beltran keeps the ‘fire burning’, experimenting and creating within differing genres. Transmitting an organic moment of mindful connection to sound, Para Viajeros is his new record, dropping today via Oath.
As per usual, John Beltran’s music carries a profound deepness. Balancing between sultry and quietly euphoric grooves and equally emphatic yet rhythmically intricate house leaning numbers, Para Viajeros provides moments for everyone and for all times of the day/night. “Em Trancoso”, the opener, features some enriching polyrhythms alongside a backdrop of sweetly fluctuating horns, with plenty of twinkling piano chords and synth tones to keep us drifting upwards and onwards. “A Dança Da Manhã” arrives next and twists the EP towards the hazy mornings of summertime, where the chordal flow reminds us of the sea breeze and the uplifting horn work points towards the world unraveling all around. Another groover, “Kumbatia (Hold Them Close)”, comes next and keeps the feeling flowing onwards, with quiet undulations making up the bulk of the progression, as the keys seem to float in the air, enticing us to keep moving. Last but not least, “Mallorca” shifts us to the end of the day, with a more spread-out rhythm providing room for one of the most beautiful melodic sequences you will get the chance to hear this year. Available on vinyl, this another golden EP released by Oath this year - introducing new artists and presenting revered ones.
Beltran’s musical outputs have come about via a handful of aliases, with his most significant being Placid Angles, the group Indio (which also includes Sam McQueen), and of course, the music released under his own name. The Placid Angles name has seen some extraordinary releases, such as 1997’s iconic ‘The Cry’; 2019’s ‘First Blue Sky’; and 2021’s ‘Touch The Earth’, all of which encapsulate his wide-reaching style, with the music touching on Techno, Ambient, Drum’N’Bass, Breakbeat, and everything in-between. His work with McQueen as Indio oversaw the release of the timeless 1999 self-titled LP, an Ambient Techno record that has since gone on to be heralded as a classic within the genre. However, his work as John Beltran has seen the most investment and shifts in direction. From the early days releasing on seminal imprints such as R&S, Peacefrog, and Apollo (check his first three LPs for reference), through to future jazz and funky leaning efforts on Ubiquity and MotorCity Wine, and some future classics on Delsin, Furthur Electronix and Seventh Sign, there’s so much there to invest and immerse yourself within.