Valentine’s Day lends itself to a lot of complex introspection… you think about the love you have, or the loves you’ve lost, or the loves you hope you’ll have someday.  It fell on an overcast Wednesday this year, adding to the mellow, thoughtful vibe in the store.

The perfect soundtrack for this odd day turned out to be our in-store performance by Carlos Nino and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, supporting their new ambient-electro-jazz album, Fill the Heart-Shaped Cup.  Acclaimed local DJ and producer Carlos Nino has worked with Ninja Tune, Plug Research, Daedalus and jazz vocalist Dwight Trible, as well as DJing for Dublab for many years.  It was his 30th birthday, and a very appropriate release day for his romantic new CD, so it was quite a special occasion for him behind the drum kit.  Lots of his local fans and friends turned up to see him.

The music opened gently, with ethereal, watery melodies on keyboard, violin and guitar, washed along by the subtle, organic percussion sounds.  Soon everyone’s ears perked up, as this soft, lovely, flowing music seemed to speak to the general mood of romantic pondering.  A lot of heads turned and folks wandered towards to stage to have their souls soothed by the aquatic-electronic jazz emanations.

The energy onstage built up gradually to some inspired soloing and crashing waves of percussion.  Capping things off, Dwight Trible (who has sung with the Pharaoh San