Alejandro Cohen’s new album as Cafe Ale is a time piece, both in its conception and inspiration. Rather than being created in a concerted effort, it has coalesced over a number of years slowly taking form. The title itself points to an underlying principle, echoes from the past reverberating into the present. There’s also a strong sense of collaborative exploration, with guest spots from Peaking’s Indra Dunis, Luis Perez, Ann Magnuson, Austin Wohlers and Qur’an Shaheed. Each adding their own musical perspectives via their contributions.

Ale describes the record as a mixtape of sorts which chimes with a sensibility of playful eclecticism throughout, perhaps unsurprising, given his roles at KCRW and dublab. Which makes Satie’s Gymnopédie No. 1 a more than suitable opener. It’s a piece of musical history that has woven itself into multiple genres and musical forms since it was written in 1888. Played as a ghostly, almost haunting, interpretation in its presence here as played on solo flute by John Bennet. It provides a perfect tonal introduction to what follows.

‘Frozen in Time’ (with Indra on vocals) goes heavy and deep, balancing a throbbing bottom-end dub sensibility with top side flutters. But then ‘Sobran Las Palabras’ sits in a kind of crazy overlap between shamanic trance and motorik desert intensity. Luis Perez provides some suitably enchanting vocal noises.

Next up, ‘Bow and Arrow’ is textured and atmospheric, more of a sound collage, spacious and stately. Flipping the tempo and feel again, this time into a subterranean, lysergic space. ‘Abound’ is eminently danceable in its own unique way. ‘Talk About LA’ is an eerie, discordant, spoken word drama by Ann Magnuson strung out over a piano accompaniment that sounds like it’s being played in a derelict building. ‘The Heart has its own desires’ provides a calming counterpoint, subtle acoustic and slide guitars are here to calm any frayed nerves. While the title track goes deeper again, reaching into ambience but with the lightest of touches.

The soft soul folk of ‘Friend’ makes for a perfect bookend. Its joyful orchestration and hopeful lyrics play beautifully together with the help of Austyn Wohler’s vocal. However, all that’s gone before feels like preparation for the sixteen minutes of musical experimentation and evolution that is ‘Manersha Blue’. A dreamlike journey of a track that encapsulates the reverberations of memory that flow throughout this record, perhaps a little challenging, but worth the application. Audio proof that the journey can be just as fulfilling as reaching the destination.

'I'm Full of Ghosts' by Cafe Ale is available to pre-order and is released 6 November.