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Product Description
Review
Guitarist Martin Cradick and singer Su Hart began their collaboration with the Baka pygmies of Cameroon in 1992, releasing Spirit Of The Forest the following year. Since then, Baka Beyond has grown to an eight-piece touring group and released five more albums. This is the sixth...
After so many years, a genuine understanding has developed between these Bath-based musicians and the people of Banana village. The various source forms are now interwoven, and subject to ongoing dialogue and development. The album seems to represent a circular journey, during which Cradick and company assimilated the Baka music, blended it with (primarily) Celtic or Gaelic traditions, and have now reached a kind of perpetual feedback situation.
Although the band features players from the UK, Cameroon, France, Sierra Leone and Senegal, each member shares their musical foundation: open to influence, but without any dilution of content. The end result is a particular fusion which is unique to Baka Beyond.
Recorded in the field and at home in the Baka Beyond studio, Rhythm Tree is blessed with a scintillating production, pressing the largely acoustic sounds deep into the ears. Su Hart has introduced old Scottish songs, which sit naturally on top of West African guitar cycles. The sensitively electrified violin of Paddy Le Mercier is often at the forefront, sweeping and swirling with lubricated grace. At the climax of "La Londe", he breaks out into a spirited reel, completely changing the direction of this Baka children's song. Ndongo twangs a Baka mouth-bow on the title track, providing its rhythmic spine. The pygmies are also refining their guitar skills, as heard on "Kobo", which they have dedicated to 'old man' Cradick himself.
Music and dance are an integral part of daily life for the Baka people. Cradick and friends have been committed to ploughing funds back into the community, culminating in the construction of a 'music house' in 2003.
Whilst Baka Beyond do skirt the boundaries of new age global hippy fusion, their music is virtually immune to cynical negativity, so forceful is its optimistic energy. There is a consistent fruity bounce to their tunes, but they never succumb to blandness. --Martin Longley
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Album Description
Widely acclaimed for its high energy, multicultural live stage shows and seminal world music recordings, Baka Beyond has established a worldwide reputation over the decade or more since it released its influential 'Spirit of the Forest' album. Band members hail from Brittany, Cameroon, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Ghana as well as Britain, and meld the rhythms and melodies of Africa with Celtic traditions old and new. Martin Cradick, guitarist and founder member of Baka Beyond, says, "Rhythm Tree is the culmination of over 10 years of work for me. It's where the music of the Baka and of Baka Beyond comes back together." The Baka Pygmies are an indigenous people from southeast Cameroon, and their musicality, creativity and culture are a constant reference point for the band, providing the perfect context in which to bring music from different cultures together. Over the years of visiting and making music with the Baka in Africa, Baka Beyond has ensured that it gives back to the source of its inspiration. Royalty payments have been channelled to the Baka through the charity Global Music Exchange, and have recently funded the building of a large timber-framed Music House in the rainforest of Cameroon. The Music House was constructed entirely from one giant tree and is the first of its kind to be built and owned by an indigenous community. In between trips to Africa, Baka Beyond has toured extensively and when not on the road has been working in their studio in Bath. ‘Rhythm Tree’ is the irresistible result, the bands first album since 2002’s ‘East to West’. Many of the tracks on ‘Rhythm Tree’ have their roots in recordings made in the Baka’s Music House. Martin Cradick and other band members helped oversee the building of the house, taking a multitrack recording system complete with a solar panel and battery on a visit in early 2004, and capturing the Baka’s music live.Dance your socks off The Baka are renowned throughout Africa as masters of dance, and anyone who has witnessed Baka Beyond live will testify to the amazing levels of energy and passion which have enthused audiences across Europe and the USA in recent years. On stage the band presents a tight spectacle of music, song and dance that overflows with fun and exuberance – a feast for the heart as well as for the eyes, ears and feet.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a great offering from the group that have electric live performances and have provided much needed publicity, assistance and royalties for the Baka forest people in the rainforest of Cameroon, who's musical culture is the inspiration behind this group.
Martin Cradick, the band leader, has stayed and worked with the Baka People on many occasions since the early 1990's and has recorded the music of the Baka People. These recordings are used in the music of Baka Beyond and the Baka musicians receive royalties exactly the same as any other member of the multi national group. They receicve the royalties through a charity set up sepcifically for this purpose and decide how they want to turn the royalties into projects that help give status to a seriously marginalised people in a very corrupt part of the world. I believe Martin is currently working on an album of solely Baka recordings for release soon.
It's wonderful to see such compassion and solidarity in the music industry, which is generally known for it's meanness and exploitation.
This album is the best offering yet form this group, which fuse afro-celtic influences into really beautiful music that just makes you want to get up and dance.
Martin Cradick, the band leader, has stayed and worked with the Baka People on many occasions since the early 1990's and has recorded the music of the Baka People. These recordings are used in the music of Baka Beyond and the Baka musicians receive royalties exactly the same as any other member of the multi national group. They receicve the royalties through a charity set up sepcifically for this purpose and decide how they want to turn the royalties into projects that help give status to a seriously marginalised people in a very corrupt part of the world. I believe Martin is currently working on an album of solely Baka recordings for release soon.
It's wonderful to see such compassion and solidarity in the music industry, which is generally known for it's meanness and exploitation.
This album is the best offering yet form this group, which fuse afro-celtic influences into really beautiful music that just makes you want to get up and dance.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Beautiful, Inspiring music that makes you get up and dance!
11 Oct 2005
Format:Audio CD
This is a gorgeous album. This is not only a musically beautiful album, but also an ethically beautiful album. Check out the band website (...) for details of how the Baka musicians (of the Baka Pygmy Tribe from the rainforest in Cameroon, who are the inspiration for and recorded for and sampled in the music for Baka Beyond) are paid exactly the same as all the other musicians who play on the album and how those royalties get turned into projects (Decided on by the Baka themselves) that help the whole of the Baka community, a marginalised culture in a very corrupt part of the world.
The music on the album is sublime, there are some 'Baka only' tracks and they are beautiful. The harmonies are incredible and very evocative, especially with the sounds of the rainforest audible in the back ground.
The music of Baka Beyond will make you want to get up and dance, it's lively, positive and even better live!
The music on the album is sublime, there are some 'Baka only' tracks and they are beautiful. The harmonies are incredible and very evocative, especially with the sounds of the rainforest audible in the back ground.
The music of Baka Beyond will make you want to get up and dance, it's lively, positive and even better live!
Rhythm Tree
10 April 2005
Format:Audio CD
I have enjoyed Baka Beyond for years, and this newest CD is wonderful! I had the chance to see them live in Washington DC on April 8th and bought the newest CD after the show in the lobby. It has not been out of my CD player yet! As always, the music is addicting and you will NOT be able to sit still! They are great live and every CD I have heard from them is well worth owning.
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