Paqua Akaliko

Three years on from announcing their attentions, Paqua are ready to unveil their debut album, Akaliko, a Buddhist word meaning "timeless". It's an apt description for an album that bristles with sun-kissed beauty, fuzzy guitars, impeccable instrumentation and far-sighted late night charm. It is, in essence, a perfect fusion of the renowned styles of its creators, British DJ/producer Paul Murphy (AKA Mudd, famed for his deliciously Balearic compositions for Rong Music and his own Claremont 56 label), longtime collaborator Alex Searle, and Quinn Luke from New York's Phenomenal Handclap Band, an act renowned for their funk-fuelled, flash-fried take on disco-inspired rock. With these three at the helm, you’re in safe hands. The supporting musical cast includes Phenomenal Handclap Band drummer Patrick Wood, percussionist Patrick Dawes (famed for his work with Groove Armada), and Faze Action's Robin Lee, who provides cello on a number of tracks. It's a thoroughbred consortium that helps provide Akaliko with a textured musical richness that’s never less than intoxicating.