Tessera by JQ & Richard Pike

JQ & Richard Pike - Tessera (SU020) 2025

JQ (Joe Quirke) and Richard Pike have been collaborating for many years. Two-thirds of jazz-tinted new age trio Forgiveness (Gondwana Records) and partner curators of UK’s Salmon Universe label, they are constantly sharing ideas and a conceptual crossover space.

‘Tessera’ is their first official duo recording. It explores the relationship between texture, frequency and impermanence in a singular way, a fleeting stream of sound materials that float in and out of view, within seconds can appear present and demanding of attention, then to fall away into a corner at the back of the room. There is a constant feeling of connection and disconnection, an ephemeral playfulness.

This is music that is carefully sound-designed, infinite in detail but transitory. Deconstructed-dub cubism. The ancient word ‘Tessera’ relates to the smaller pieces of a larger whole, usually stones of a mosaic, a synecdoche representing a colour-printed sheet in half-tones, a pattern made by cracks in a wall, or a visible trace of an earlier painting beneath. A pentimento effect of a drawing erased while the faint outlines of what existed below still endure. Echoes of echoes, sounds shared, resampled and small gestures repurposed to take on new meaning.

The cover was painted by Berlin's Winston Chmielinski aka Weseeclearly. His art exists in its own space, off-grid, where he is intuitively drawn to less literal perspectives, colors, and forms, ethereal yet earth-bound.

Together JQ & Richard Pike have collaborated on large installation soundscapes for Prada and others, and are residents on Margate Radio.

JQ is a multi-instrumentalist from London who has released albums with Green, Post-Geography, Lo Recordings & New Atlantis. He is a member of Forgiveness and Candyfloss Mountain, and has held residencies on NTS and Noods.

Richard Pike has released on Warp Records with his band PVT, makes meditative music under the moniker Deep Learning, scored TV for Stanley Tucci (Nat Geographic / BBC) and Australia’s iconic Romper Stomper re-boot. Installation and commercial work include a Charli XCX/H&M collab, Nike, Hyundai, Adidas, Bloomberg and live he has supported James Holden and Gold Panda.

SALMON UNIVERSE
London/Ramsgate tape label.

Future music. Curated by Deep Learning (Richard Pike) and JQ (Joe Quirke)

Gig bookings and
demos: info@salmonuniverse.com

salmonuniverse.com
SoundCloud
Facebook
Twitter