HAMSA LILA – Gathering One
In The Pocket, 2004

WORLD FUSION – Local ensemble. Mostly dance grooves based on various sentir riffs, instrumental samples and little sing-chants, well put together if not always as innovative or interesting as it wants to be (surely they can come up with another bassline or two!). The chants are borrowed from many different cultures, and all revolve around peace, love, and happy thoughts like that. Good but not great, fusion fans should dig it. The second half is better all around.

Fo’s Picks: 1, 6, 8, 9, maybe 5 or 10

1. 6:51 – upbeat semi-Moroccan sample pastiche; 2nd half faster/trippier
2. 3:48 – upbeat & wiggly, with Yoruba chant, gets a bit repetitive
3. 2:54 – relaxed Buddhist chant, swirly mix w/clarinet in background
4. 3:12 – uptempo, with nice wooden flute. Slow Arabic chant
5. 4:28 – slower: walking rhythm with soulful saxophone. Relaxing.
6. 1:48 – chant + percussion emerges from muddiness, then returns
7. 8:13 – nicely funky, w/ electronic twiddles & multi-language chant
8. 5:27 – bouncy jam, good groove ‘n’ vocals, breaks down & rebuilds
9. 2:52 – relaxed & pretty, gentle vocals, like a dream or a lullaby
10. 3:55 – positive freestyle vocal and floaty, funky rhythm
11. 1:24 – traditional Yoruba “elegua” (invocation of spirit)

[ Fo ] - 2/6/04