Stand High Patrol - Underground Oasis (Stand High Records)

'Underground Oasis' turns out to be a rather introspective record, with a sound somewhere between trip-hop, electropop and dub. Lyrically, Pupajim plays with the idea of creating one's own oasis, real or imagined, a concept that echoes a quote by the French philosopher and sociologist Edgar Morin - "What matters most is to preserve oases of resistance…" - which the band itself also cites as an inspiration for the album. Pupajim: "…we need these oases, these places where other values are possible. We sometimes take these places for granted, but unfortunately that's not the case. So, we have to fight to preserve these oases, or even create new ones, whatever their size."

Unsurprisingly, the track list is filled with references to places from Pupajim's own life that function as such oases. In 'Cool In My Cellar', he sings: "Welcome in my cellar. I'm chilled in my cellar. We are cool in my cellar. Welcome in my shelter.", and song titles like 'My Den' and 'Oasis' speak for themselves.

With 'Future', the album also features a combination tune and for this track Stand High Patrol invited Joe Yorke. Pupajim explains: "The futures imagined in the 70s and 80s in films and books are the ones we are living today, which is a reference to hauntology (a philosophical concept referring to the persistence or return of elements from the social or cultural past, as if they continue to haunt the present, red.). Joe Yorke was the first person to make me aware of that concept, so it made sense to invite him for this track."

On Sunday June 28, Stand High Patrol will present 'Underground Oasis' live at Couleur Café.