Reviewed: 2020—04-25
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Their first album in 12 years. The band members have been performing constantly in other groups. “The compositions, drawing on the band’s West African and pan-European roots, range from light-touch folk songs to jazz-infused complexity. Time signatures are awkward but easy on the ear, and Loueke’s dense guitar harmonies are warmed by svelte grooves or raw dollops of funk.” – Mike Hobart, Financial Times
If You Like: King Sunny Ade, Manu Dibango, Mulatu Astatqé, Palm Wine Boys
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Teke (5:19) – guitar starts> fast tempo jam> quick stop
*2/ Little Wing (3:24) – guitar starts> fast tempo jam slows to midtempo> slow fade
*3/ Le (3:07) – guitar starts> uptempo song with Hawaiian vibe> quick stop
**4/ Happiness (3:30) – bass/drums start> fast tempo funky jam with vocals> quick stop
5/ 13th Floor To Heaven (5:22) – bass starts> midtempo jam with vocals> quick fade
**6/ Brio (3:29) – guitar starts> fast tempo jam> quick stop
7/ Fleuve Congo (2:32) – guitar starts> midtempo jam> quick stop
8/ Algorythm And Blues (4:58) – drums start> funky midtempo mellow jam> quick fade
*10/ Aflao (4:45) – drums start> lively uptempo jam> quick stop
*11/ Left Undone (5:16) – full band starts> uptempo jam builds in volume to fast tempo> crescendo end
12/ Requiem For A Soul (4:09) – guitar starts> mellow uptempo jam> slow fade
*13/ Until (3:23) – sonic guitar starts> slow tempo spacey jam> fade.