The
driving force of The Shaolin Afronauts is Ross McHenry, the ARIA nominated
composer, bandleader, producer and bassist based in Adelaide. Alongside co
collaborators Lachlan Ridge and Dylan Marshall, It is their opmbined wide
ranging musical tastes, impeccable production and instrumental skills that
always result in music that is original, thought provoking, unexpected and
quite beautiful.
2011's
debut album 'Flight Of The Ancients' was a critical and commercial success
story. The follow up 'Quest Under Capricorn' further cemented the bands
reputation for forging their own very particular sound - and now in 2014 - as
the band prepare to tour Japan & Europe (including 2 prestigious shows at
The Glastonbury Festival) Freestyle Records is proud to present the expansive
& epic Follow The Path.
Follow
The Path is a 21 track, double album that expands upon and delves further into
the musical genres that inspire and influence the group - rhythmic and
pulsating afrobeat, and the avant-garde/spiritual jazz inspired by artists such
as Sun Ra and Mulatu Astatke.
One
superb example of how this band execute their musical vocabulary is Ojo
Abameta, a percussive & frenetic number, built on a bed of amazing
percussion and topped off with some deeply sweet ensemble horns, the end result
is reminiscent of African hi life sounds which acts as a curtain raiser for
this incredible album. The albums title track 'Follow The Path' uses afrobeat
as a template, but with strong funk undercurrents, as the insistent beat
underpins the beautiful ensemble horns and bubbling analogue synth sounds to
dramatic and hypnotic effect.
In
contrast, the second volume emphasises The Shaolin Afronauts more experimental
and introspective side. As an example, the three part suite Outside
Beyond/Three Ways Back is a genuine musical journey that takes the listener
through many musical moods and textures...;this is deep, spiritually rooted
music that locates the band almost in a genre of their very own - having such
an original and individual approach and sound.
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