VA - Charles Bals & Norman Gervais - Transcoastal (2025)

The idea of putting together songs like impressions of a feeling rather than a collection of recordings from a certain decade or style or genre was at the heart of a discussion I had with Norman in 2019. It was a warm July day on the Riviera. I had just finished putting together the sound system for our first and only festival. “It should paint a picture”… We began a work of compiling. Norm would send tracks and we would try to situate them on the spectrum of a large “carte postale” encompassing in one corner the kitsch resort balneaire, in the other the sail boat in a Caribbean creek, with sandy beaches and glimmering waves in between. With the certainty that the French only seem to possess in matters of taste (my wife Emma is the same), Norm would go: “ah ca c’est 100% Blue Wave” or not at all.

Shortly after, I was introduced by Norm to Charles. The two had been exchanging on references for a while and they had agreed to work together. I was over the moon of course. Our souls had been sucked to Club Meduse shortly prior, and was an inspiration for our aspirations.

The timeline here gets blurry. I lost a bunch of money in the Lebanese crisis and the local economy melted down. Covid hit. The second edition of Pocket of Light Cote d’Azur got cancelled. Movements restrained. Lovers separated. And then the Beirut Port Explosion happened.

I won’t meander long in self pity, but at this very moment in time, the beach seemed so far away, like a forgotten paid reservation at my dream holiday destination. It took me a while to shake that feeling off. Sometimes it still catches me.

We convened to meet in Dusseldorf. We had a party at the Paradise Now. The next day, we had cold tea and cake. Charles walked us through a part of his collection. Every record like a layover on the way to where I left off in my head.

At this moment, seeing Norm and Charles moving to the sound, I remembered that we were up to something golden.

A couple years later here we are. I am thankful for the patience of my collaborators and thrilled to present to you this volume of Transcoastal.

A reminder to keep sailing on that capricious sea despite the weather. Not too far off after the horizon, a gentle vision of paradise awaits.

We went out of our ways, we hope you go out of yours.

Love, light and sand in your shoes,
Mario

Vinyl-only for the time being.
credits
released April 30, 2025

Compiled by Charles Bals and Norman Gervais
Produced by Mario Gharios for Pocket of Light
Mastering and Lacquer Cut - Calyx Germany
Pressed at Optimal

Tracklist
A1. M.E.A. Group - Onda Nueva (Massimo Casadei) [3:07]
A2. Mr. Myers - So Long (Damian Smith) [4:08]
A3. Alberto Wolf Y Los Terapeutas - Subliminalmente Panteísta (Alberto Wolf) [3:50]
A4. Só Sentindo O Momento (Ricardo Bomba) [3:25]
A5. Flaire - Winter's Gone (Rainer Schwitalla) [3:22]
B1. Laguna (Dean A. Crawford) [3:09]
B2. That's Why I Listen to My Heart (Raphael Holder) [4:20]
B3. Sorcery (Richard Bowen) [3:39]
B4. Jealous Sea (Neal Davis) [4:10]
B5. Havanna Club - Laura (Jan Kazda, Reiner Hänsch) [3:49]