Peggy Gou’s Gudu Records is proud to present the label’s first-ever album from someone who’s been part of the family since the start: Brain de Palma. On October 18th, the full ‘Rhythmption’ LP drops, following ‘Mind the Gap’ – an uplifting piano-powered house weapon, ‘U Ya Kwini,’ featuring the vocals of artist, Victor Kwality, hailing from Mozambique.
Born in Ukraine, settling as a child in Turin and spending three years in Egypt before settling in his current home of Berlin, Alexei Versino has one hell of a story.
Musically, he’s been around for a decade now, releasing his previous music (solo as Panama Keys and also as one half of the duo Stump Valley) on labels like Dekmantel, Soul Clap and Off Minor before settling on Gudu with his Brain de Palma alias. But personally, his relationship to music goes much more profound: as a young child growing up in the former Soviet Union, a lot of European music was banned, so he relied on his well-travelled uncle to bring him back smuggled cassettes of Italo Disco, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, Erasure and early DJ mixes – getting an illicit musical education behind closed doors as a child.
Comprising eleven tracks made across the past year, Versino describes ‘Rhythmption’ as “my redemption through rhythm” and a tribute to “seeing people enjoying themselves on the dancefloor, that feeling of unity where people become one thing, regardless of their life path or social status.”
Opening with the gorgeous ‘Thandolwami’ (featuring South African vocalist Sfiso Atomza), the album charts a path through sun-drenched Balearic house, stuttering drum work-outs, Italo-inspired synth romps, trancey house, and even a touching tribute to his former home of Egypt, taking in every aspect of Versino’s journey to date. After all, it’s not all about the destination; it’s also the sights you see along the way.
You can now listen to the full premiere of ‘Brainbow’ exclusively on When We Dip. Enjoy!
Release Date: October 18th, 2024. Buy Here
Brain De Palma: Instagram // Soundcloud
Gudu Records: Instagram // SoundCloud