We leave you for Christmas (if you're into that sort of thing) with a live recording of Kranky's Benoît Pioulard. Years back, when Percussion Lab was young and I was stuck on IDM, Benoît started sending me rough demos which would form the basis for his initial 7" release on Moodgadget Records. I was floored. During a time when my ears were filled with the sounds of underground bass & beats, Benoît's organic synthesis of Tim Hecker inspired atmospherics, acoustic ballads and gorgeous, layered vocals was a welcome change of pace. Always humble, he never could imagine how well received this most personal of creations would be. Personally, Benoît's music hits home. So close, in fact, that eventually, we found the time to collaborate on our own project, Praveen & Benoît, on Pandatone's Music Related.

This set, recorded at 2009's installment of Decibal Festival is the perfect companion to an introspective, snowy winter eve. Harmonium drones, distant vocals, guitar loops and dictaphone recordings, all carefully assembled live, combine to form an evocative, dense hum. Most of Benoît's fans don't realize the emphasis on ambience and shoegaze that his live performances have. They're some of the most ethereal and entrancing performances I've ever witnessed and its truly my pleasure to feature this mix.