Almost exactly a year on since we first opened your ears to the lush, cinematic, international sounds of Italian producer and musician Isaac de Martin, he returns as IKE with an expanded EP, offering up a wondrous selection of genre bending takes on the track Clay – one of highlights of 2025’s On Higher Dreams LP.
Last year’s debut for Wah Wah 45s blended jazz and electronic influences into warm, evocative, global soundscapes. IKE is a musical nomad, and one of his favourite places to visit is Egypt. It’s a country that has always held a deep fascination for him, and was deeply influential in the making of the On Higher Dreams album.
The ancient Egyptians would mould small, uniform statuettes known as Ushabti, often out of clay. They would be placed in tombs to act as servants for the deceased in the afterlife. Ushabti roughly translates to “answerer”, reflecting their role to respond when the deceased was called to work. They weren’t just found in the tombs of the Pharaohs (whose Ushabti would often be made of more expensive materials) but would often be discovered in the resting places of farmers and other manual workers who would be more likely to be at rest with ones made out of clay. In this way, the track is a tribute to equality and dignity for all in the afterlife.
Just as clay can be easily re-shaped by hand, the song itself has here been moulded into five new forms that sit peacefully alongside the original album take. Having worked with Brighton based singer-songwriter (and erstwhile Resonator) Faye Houston on a live show last year, IKE invited her to record her version of the song, which she wrote her own lyrics for, transforming it into an ode to giving and receiving love. The recording also features sophisticated Italian jazz drummer, Jacopo Zanette, who embellishes the groove with a thousand ghost notes while keyboard wizard Valerio Pascucci imposes wild bass notes on the Moog. The result is a powerful and transformative rendition of this evocative piece.
Three other versions came to life on a return visit to Cairo later in 2025 – the first while Chilling at The Bahareya Oasis, and consequently delivering a more carefree, yet somehow driving take that conjures up images of desert sands and the joy of finding relief in the arid heat. Another is the version recorded Live at The Heliopolis University in Cairo. This more quirky, dub influenced rendition features Felipe Vignolo on guitar, as well as local musicians Mody El Shaafee on nay (a traditional end-blown flute), Sherif Moustafa on piano, Moris Emil on electric bass, Hany Zain on percussions and Islam Magdy on drums.
Finally, the Cairo Sandy Roads interpretation heads off in a pseudo-drum & bass direction, erupting into an electro-acoustic frenzy. Added to the package is Clay in its original dubwise form, as well as a very useful instrument of the trio version of the track.
Reactions & Radio Play
Radio support from Don Letts (BBC 6 Music), Tom Ravenscroft (Rinse FM), Sven Thomschke (Radio Z 95.8FM, Germany), Playlisted by Diggers Radio (Albi, France)
Featured in the Slow Nomaden Downtempo 2026 playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1lRE8jLAALMjuHhgjPsSph?si=ERRK7Fu5TruMZRTDJPOHAA
“Yes! What a band! Oui Oui!” DJ Soulist (Souleance, France)
“Dope!” Delfonic (GAMM, BBE, Germany)
“Brilliant versions of IKE’s Clay, from one of my favourite albums of 2025. Great release, I love it !” Jazzcat (Ness Radio, Italy)
“One for the sunset sessions… lovely stuff.” Phat Phil Cooper (Nu Northern Soul, Ibiza)
“Jazzy dub electro biggg!” Jean-Marc Baehler (Couleur 3, Switzerland)
“Wow fantastic … Wah Wah 45s killin’ it lately!” For Mankind (Pikes, Ibiza)
“Amazing!” Ahu (Worldwide FM, Turkey)
“Chilling at Bahareya, Trio version and OG are the best!” Avi Daryanani (Radar Radio, UK)
“Great sound!” Léonard (Plum FM, France)
“Some nice bits!” Mathieu Schreyer (KCRW, USA)
“On playlist Diggers Radio.” Diggers Radio (Albi, France)
“LUVVVVV tha Vybes.” Michael Stukes (WHCR 90.3FM, USA)
“The Trio Version ft. Faye Houston gives the track a bit of a deep, groove kick.” Steve Johns (Solar Radio, UK)
“Will be playing, enjoy the album version and Cairo sandy roads.” Jason Pulaski (KUCCI 88.9FM, USA)
“Loving the reworks!” Breakplus (Couleur 3, Switzerland)
“Nice mix of tracks..will be playing!” Raj Selli (Solar Radio, UK)
“Trio version is dope!” DJ Soulski (Various, Berlin, Germany)
“Great!!!” Veronique Prebolin (Radio Krimi, France)
“Pleased to hear new material from this artist!” Sista Selecta (Bucketts Radio, Australia)
“WOW! What a nice package!” Svewn Thomschke (Radio Z 95.8FM, Germany)
“Love it, thanks!” Enrique Domenech (CKUT 90.3FM, Canada)
“Thanks for sharing IKE’s Clay EP. The production across the entire album is solid and well-crafted… it has a unique energy that fits better with our eclectic style.” Laurent (La Grosse Tambouille, Radio Broussaille, France)
“All versions top-notch!” Rado Tomek (NuSpirit, Bratislava)
“Sweet groove!” Olivier de Cavaller (De La Bonne Musique, France)
“The Trio version of “Clay” is the one for me!!!” Markus Milz (Radio Corax 94.9FM, Germany)
“Deep and intoxicating late night grooves.” Jamie Renton (Chilli Fried, UK)
“Interesting project… like the way this has evolved. the live at Heliopolis version has a hint of Ghost Town to it which is only to be commended!” Steve KIW (1BTN, UK)
“Interesting sound! Nice!” Nicole Finnerty (Kane FM 103.7FM, UK)
“Nice!” Ivan Mera (Higher Club, Spain)
“Loving the live cut, stretching OG out to double length … excellent !!” Mark Ward (Sideways Through Sound, UK)
“Looking forward to catch the band live on stage somewhere, excellent tracks!” DJ Six (Various, UK)
“Great versions. I do like the vocal version also and the Heliopolis one.” Nigel Wood (Various, UK)
“Ike’s off-the-wall sounds cope well in remixed versions, there are so many avenues along which you could take the source material that literally anything could happen. Kicking-in with the raucous Trio Version which teeters on the edge of chaos, helped along by Faye Houston’s other-worldly vocal. Moving on, Chilling At Bahareya Oasis skews the sound completely, coming in with a sub Baka Beyond mix. The live take adopts the tune’s original reggae theme with a nice loping rhythm whilst Cairo Sandy fires up the tempo with an Arabic-influenced D&B epic. FFS guys. Anyway, as I thought, totally unpredictable and utterly wonderful.” Drummie Dave (Various, UK)
“Perfect timing for the Radio WOMAD mixtape sessions.” Gerry Hectic (You And The Music, UK)
