Friday, April 12, 2019

New Music Releases: Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - Ancestral Recall; Mavis Staples – Live In London; Budos Band - V


Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - Ancestral Recall

Ancestral Recall continues Adjuah’s mission to unify people via their musical and cultural voices by tearing down the sonic and social constructs that separate them. As a newly ascended Chieftain in the Black masking culture of New Orleans, he has been deeply committed to turning identity politics, as it is used in music, on its ear. Ancestral Recall seeks to excavate and update hidden histories in sound by displaying a sonic tapestry that illuminates the har-melodic movements found within rhythm. Adjuah explains: "In its inception, Ancestral Recall was built as a map to decolonize sound; to challenge previously held misconceptions about some cultures of music; to codify a new folkloric tradition and begin the work of creating a national set of rhythms; rhythms rooted in the synergy between West African, First Nation, African Diaspora/Caribbean rhythms and their marriage to rhythmic templates found in trap music, alt-rock, and other modern forms. It is time we created a sound that dispels singular narratives of entire peoples and looks to finally represent the wealth of narratives found throughout the American experience. An experience that shows all forms of expression in sound are valid, as all people are." The goal is to connect people in one understanding rather than dividing them by definition.

Mavis Staples – Live In London

Mavis Staples has been a soul and gospel music legend for more than 50 years. Her work fronting the legendary Staple Singers defined the sound of politically-committed soul and influenced generations of musicians. As a solo artist, she has helped to define much of what is righteous and soulful in American music. There are few who can claim to have been performing as long as Mavis, let alone to her standards. This album captures her live at the Union Chapel in London with her band performing some of the greatest songs from her musical catalog, while celebrating her 79th birthday.



Budos Band - V

It's hard to believe that the Budos Band have been around long enough to give us five full albums – but along the way, they've also picked up plenty of power to add to their sound! This time around, the guitars seem even sharper than ever – full and fuzzy, and maybe even touched with some elements that might have made some of the bigger 70s groups weep – almost as if the BB are trying to create a whole new generation of prog funk in the process! All the other elements are still in place – lots of heavy drums, rumbling bass, and some mighty nice horns – but when mixed with the strength of the guitars, even the horns feel as if they're hitting some new currents – like when artists like Dick Heckstall Smith or Alan Skidmore might jam along with a funky guitar riff from way back. Titles include "The Enchanter", "Spider Web (part 1)", "Old Engine Oil", "Veil Of Shadows", "Arcane Rambler", "Valley Of The Damned", and "Rumble From The Void". ~ Dusty Groove


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