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The third in Strut Records' Inspiration Information collaborative series pairs Mulatu Astatke, 66-year-old father of Ethio-jazz, with London-based astral funk collective the Heliocentrics. The collaboration began with an appearance at London club Cargo in 2008, and has finally borne recorded fruit in the form of an intriguing album that's equal parts sweaty funk and blissfully meditative jams.
Astatke has come to be appreciated outside specialist circles in recent years. His music featured heavily in Jim Jarmusch's 2005 film Broken Flowers, and before that, in 1998, an entire edition of the Ethiopiques album series was devoted to his work. His sound intertwines funk and jazz elements with traditional Ethiopian folk melodies and echoes of Coptic Church music. Astatke's compositions frequently combine his own vibraphone and conga playing with the distinctive sound of the lyre-like krar, which works with five tones instead of the seven-note scale typical of western music. These disparate elements combine to create a heady blend that feels both sacred and profane.
That paradoxical effect holds sway here, with the Heliocentrics adding a glitchy sheen. Their most noticeable contribution at first is the sheer power of the drumming, which on sleazy jam Addis Black Widow and the funky sax-led Fire in the Zoo have an almost breakbeat-like heaviness. Elsewhere, however, they conspire with Astatke to far subtler effect. The electronic effects flecked between the meandering bass, spiralling strings and washint (an Ethiopian flute) passages on An Epic Story are no less compelling for being down in the mix.
There are times when the partnership falters. Blue Nile dips its toes into forgettable downtempo territory, and the closing ten-minute sprawl of Anglo Ethio Suite doesn't build much beyond a promising opening. The good outweighs the bad, however, especially on the woozy stagger of Chik Chikka and the Alice Coltrane-style oddness of Phantom of the Panther. Best of all is Live From Tigre Lounge, where metallic beats combine with a sinister organ and distant howled vocals above a bassline that sounds like its wandered in from an early-1990s hardcore record. At times such as these this project makes perfect, unexpected sense. --Chris Power
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Astatke's grooves frst came the to the listening public's attention through the success of the film Broken Flowers and the popular Ethiopiques series. Then came an impromptu night at Cargo with brilliant percussive unit The Heliocentrics. A raucous session followed for Gilles Peterson's Radio One show and the rest shall we say is history.
Peterson himself has said, "these guys are made for each other." And on the early evidence of listening to this I'd have to agree.
"Cha, Cha," a new Astetke composition bears all his hallmarks; funky trumpet loops, that swaying, slightly uneasy percussive rhythm. What The Heliocentrics do is really beef his music up, with extra layers of drums and celestial sounds from all manner of other instruments. But the great thing is that incessant groove is never compromised.
It's worth noting that this record is very much a shared project, a good half a dozen of the tracks composed by Catto and Ferguson. What is astonishing is the way it all marries together so effortlessly. I love the creepy effect of "Addis Black Window," and the kaleidoscopic "Blue Nile." The adventurous "Chinese New Year" is another high moment.
This is basically a disgusting album in the sense that it's so damn good. We should marvel at the fact that every now and again a great musical idea comes to fruition and it ends up sounding like this.
I waited like an excited schoolboy for this to arrive through the post. So should you.
Peterson himself has said, "these guys are made for each other." And on the early evidence of listening to this I'd have to agree.
"Cha, Cha," a new Astetke composition bears all his hallmarks; funky trumpet loops, that swaying, slightly uneasy percussive rhythm. What The Heliocentrics do is really beef his music up, with extra layers of drums and celestial sounds from all manner of other instruments. But the great thing is that incessant groove is never compromised.
It's worth noting that this record is very much a shared project, a good half a dozen of the tracks composed by Catto and Ferguson. What is astonishing is the way it all marries together so effortlessly. I love the creepy effect of "Addis Black Window," and the kaleidoscopic "Blue Nile." The adventurous "Chinese New Year" is another high moment.
This is basically a disgusting album in the sense that it's so damn good. We should marvel at the fact that every now and again a great musical idea comes to fruition and it ends up sounding like this.
I waited like an excited schoolboy for this to arrive through the post. So should you.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A truly inspired collaboration that brings out the best in those involved. Mulatu Astatke's jazz with Ethiopian melodies is intriguing stuff and he was recently re-discovered partly via the Ethiopiques vol. 4 album that re-issued some of his 60's tracks. However, his recent solo album, Mulatu step's ahead, also released on Strut is for me a bit lightweight.
The Heliocentrics are a British based band influenced by the best of late 60's and early 70's spacey funk and jazz. They are led by Malcom Catto sometime drummer for Quantic Soul Orchestra who is also involved in discovering old records for Jazzman records. However, I do find the Heliocentric's own albums lack a bit of focus.
With this record you get the best of both worlds. The Heliocentrics add some oomph to the music as well as some nice spacey touches which give it a feel closer to the music on Ethiopiques vol.4, whilst also making the music sound more contemporary. Astatke's compositions give the album more depth and mean that the album isn't just a collection of interesting but similar instrumentals.
I should however point out that Astatke only appears on some tracks and this album really is a collaboration that features the Heliocentric's as equal partners. Yet the tracks do have a complementary feel and the album is overall homogenous. There are many catchy tracks on the album and my only complaint is that the first and last tracks are the weakest. Overall though it's a fantastic album.
The Heliocentrics are a British based band influenced by the best of late 60's and early 70's spacey funk and jazz. They are led by Malcom Catto sometime drummer for Quantic Soul Orchestra who is also involved in discovering old records for Jazzman records. However, I do find the Heliocentric's own albums lack a bit of focus.
With this record you get the best of both worlds. The Heliocentrics add some oomph to the music as well as some nice spacey touches which give it a feel closer to the music on Ethiopiques vol.4, whilst also making the music sound more contemporary. Astatke's compositions give the album more depth and mean that the album isn't just a collection of interesting but similar instrumentals.
I should however point out that Astatke only appears on some tracks and this album really is a collaboration that features the Heliocentric's as equal partners. Yet the tracks do have a complementary feel and the album is overall homogenous. There are many catchy tracks on the album and my only complaint is that the first and last tracks are the weakest. Overall though it's a fantastic album.
Format:Vinyl
Mulatu is unique. He moved to London in the 60's to study engineering and quickly became intoxicated by the jazz music of time. He learnt to play the vibraphone and trumpet and moved to New York where he became influenced by funk music. So there you have it, Ethiopian, jazz, funk music which to this day is still only played by one man, yes Mulatu. That is why Jim Jarmusch and Tom Waits love his music so much, because it is unique, and just the coolest music you're ever going to hear.
You want to listen to something different then check it out, you won't be disapointed.
I absolutely love it!
You want to listen to something different then check it out, you won't be disapointed.
I absolutely love it!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
I LOVE THIS ALBUM AN OBSCENE AMOUNT
I have listened to this album almost every day since I bought it soon after its release.
It is quite simply the coolest dang music you are ever gonna hear! Read more
It is quite simply the coolest dang music you are ever gonna hear! Read more
Published 16 months ago by jsh27
very very good
this album is incredible! the heliocentrics back mulatu astatke's energetic jazz with some wonderful swirly textures and punctuate it all with brutal rhythms. Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2009 by Mr. M. P. Dunlop
Absolutely great
This is a very inspired work by Mulatu Astatke, if you liked Ethipiopiques be sure not to miss out on this album!
Published on 21 Aug 2009 by J. Gomes
Inspired Ethiopian Fusion
In this album Mulato Astatke, familiar from the Ethiopiques series and the Broken Flowers soundtrack, collaborates with The Heliocentris to wonderful effect. Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2009 by Bee Hugger
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