Portaling by Bendu

Portaling is the staggering new album from Bendu, and his second for WFR.

Following up 2021's Sagittarius, Ben Vance has reached deep from within his near-infinite sound palette to create an LP full of cosmic wonder.

"While making the album I read an essay by American painter Paul Laffoley", Ben explains in a recent interview for WFR Magazine. "In it he explores all aspects of portals as a metaphor for personal change or spiritual development. The essay ends with the words, "This portal is known as the bindu, the Sanskrit word for dot, meaning the universe in its manifest and unmanifest form." Spelling inaccuracy aside, this enjoyable coincidence revealed to me a deeper meaning in my endeavour, helped inform the narrative, and provided a title for Portaling. "

Recorded during lockdown, you can definitely sense Ben's oscillating mood shifts and emotions while navigating the uncertainty and fragility of the human condition during the pandemic. From the naive joy of 'Super Hit' to the melancholic beauty of 'Awareness Of Mind', all the way through to the proper funky head-bobbers of 'The Lux' and 'Shape Plus Motion',

Tracklist

1.	Portals	1:42

2.	The Lux	3:37

3.	Word For Dot	3:39

4.	Awareness Of Mind	2:57

5.	Shape Plus Motion	3:40

6.	Just Okay	3:43

7.	Theme From Baby Teeth	2:02

8.	Super Hit	4:41

9.	Always Been There	2:26

10.	Melancholy	5:26

11.	TINRDIF	4:22

12.	The Answer	2:39

Credits

released March 25, 2023

Written and recorded in Los Angeles, 2021.

Some inspiration came from Paul Laffoley's essay 'Portaling', 2001. paullaffoley.net
Voice: Lex Lovenight
Mastering: Antony Ryan at RedRedPaw
Graphic design and Artwork: Nick Taylor at Spectral Studio
Endless gratitude to Steven Anderson, Kate Bosworth, Frazer Brown, Hazel Brown, Fred Ciba, Matt Donatelli, Krystyna Hutchinson, Mike Jonson, Destin LeBlanc, Salvatore Mercatante, Alasdair O'May, Stephen Osborne, Wayne Ulmer and Lisa Woodard.

Consciousness is all that there is.

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