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.
Tracklist:
1. Clay (Trio Version) (feat. Faye Houston)
2. Clay (Chilling At Bahareya Oasis)
3. Clay (Live at Heliopolis University, Cairo)
4. Clay (Cairo Sandy Roads)
5. Clay
6. Clay (Trio Instrumental)
