Prepare yourself for some thrilling music news Maurice Louca surprised us last week by announcing his upcoming full-length album, Moonshine.

He’s dropping his new album under the name Elephantine, and let me tell you, it’s epic. This record features an incredible lineup of talented musicians that will blow you away, including double drummers Tommaso Cappellato and Özün Usta; Piero Bittolo Bon on alto, Daniel Gahrton on baritone and Isak Hedtjärn on clarinet; Rasmus Svale Kjærgård Lund on tuba; Rosa Brunello on bass; Els Vandeweyer on vibraphone and Louca on guitar/lap steel/synth.

Letting loose over five tracks, they explore everything from Middle Eastern music to psychedelic folk, electronic, and free improvisation. The resulting sound is captivating, and the ensemble’s energy is so palpable you can practically feel it in the air!

We´ll have to wait until October 20th for the album to arrive through Northern Spy Records. But alongside the announcement comes, the album’s first single, ‘Tremble,’ a song that is both distinct and evokes a vivid atmosphere. Passionate and emotional, yet intricate and complex.

South African drummer Asher Gamedze has written an essay on Moonshine, and you can read an excerpt from “Not by its Own Light” below. Enjoy.

…Moonshine grew out of Elephantine in a collective and organic way. Apart from the drummers, the process of recording the ensemble’s debut album was the first time Maurice had met and played with all the other musicians. Through recording the first record and touring it, they got to know each other quite well (‘family’ is the word Maurice uses to describe their relationships), and the group of musicians became a band….