Single of the Week: Puma & the Dolphin ‘Indoor Routine’ EP

Elusive Bulgarian producer Puma & the Dolphin (aka Nikko Names) has returned with the newly-released Indoor Routine EP on the Glasgow-based Invisible Inc. label. After exploring the sounds of post-punk dance and dub on last year’s outstanding Primitive EP (on Canadian electronic imprint, Chambre Noire), Puma & the Dolphin find inspiration in the hypnotic polyrhythms of Africa for Indoor Routine, particularly the work of Francis Bebey.

While simultaneously looking across continents, he looks no further than his own home for more intimate sounds of domestic life. “Toy instruments, drum playing, the voices of children playing and even the family parrots whistling and squawking in the background” bring a playful, intimate ambience. The soothing melody of “Morning Plant” is played on kalimba while a muted and heavily processed trumpet and keyboard play more freeform counter melodies. Beautiful stuff.

This collection of pieces were created during a monotone period of my life which I have overlaid with colour: a time in which I surrender to the beauty of home life – watching my kids play, feeding the birds – entwining these sounds of my surroundings amongst the rhythmic layers of these pieces. Playing the drums to remind us of the next circle dance for four. There is something mystic to travel only in your head; a shamanic trip inside the body with no concepts and answers.