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Ethnofusion Picks #Nov2017

December 3, 2017 - Blog
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Alon Mor – Long Awaited Journey

Alon Mor’s full length, ‘Long Awaited Journey’ is one of the blog’s most important features this year and I have written a very in-depth article on this phenomenal new release for the Untz. I will link that article here when it is up, meanwhile, it will suffice for me to just say that Alon Mor is combining orchestral and electronic music in completely unchartered territories, and the following last paragraph from my Untz article gives you the gist of what to expect:

“The modern masterpiece is almost flawless, and one of the only possible avenues where the album may seem inaccessible is that some changes are slightly erratic, and while this fits the narrative of the album, it also hinders its cadence; a factor which may be an issue if you are after loop-based dance music. However, if you are for the unexpected, something that literally makes you think beyond the confines of its aural expression, Alon Mor is the most crucial album you need to hear this year. The Long Awaited Journey’s blend of classical and futuristic production, and the tale of a character’s whole life-time is a true ode to being considered as ‘timeless’ music.”

Eccentricity = 10
Lucidity = 10
Intricacy = 10
Cadence = 9
Sentiment = 10

Median = 9.8

Poranguí – Ayahuasca Remixed [Desert Trax]

As is evident through the introduction, the recent Porangui remix release from Desert Trax is jam-packed with tribal prayers and primal songs of praise, re-envisioned by the closest people we have to shamanic gurus in the electronic music scene. Starting with a hypnotic and polyrhythmic remix from Shaman’s Dream & Parangui himself, the album includes master-class quality production from some of this blog’s favourites artists, such as Drumspyder, SOOHAN and Liquid Bloom, as well as a number of other highly impressive remixes from Stratosphere and Numatik. Overall, being a Desert Trax production, little more needs be said in terms of quality, just that this is a perfect release for anyone into meditative ethnic bass music with minimum distraction from digital elements.

Eccentricity = 8
Lucidity = 10
Intricacy = 10
Cadence = 10
Sentiment = 9

Median = 9.4

Lo.Renzo – Gaia [Merkaba Music]

Lo.Renzo may be one of the hardest working dudes in this genre, with countless projects and instruments to continuously keep himself involved with. Gaia is his newest creation, out via a Merkaba Music compilation, and it is a beautifully organic and driving piece of peace music. One thing that makes all of Lo.Renzo’s projects legit is his sampling of his own recordings of numerous instruments, in this case, sarangi, acoustic guitar, electronic elements and the main concept of melodies created from stones he collected by a river. If ethnofusion had a sustainability index, few could top our proposed “ethically-sourced” key performance index as easily as Lo.Renzo can.

Eccentricity = 8
Lucidity = 9
Intricacy = 10
Cadence = 9
Sentiment = 9

Median = 9

For fans of Liquid Bloom, Wei-Chi Field & Kalya Scintilla.

POÁN – Tramonto

As further testament to the fact that Lo.Renzo bossed 2017 is this; POÁN, his side project with Giacomo Barbari which focuses on the production of long soundscape-based music by utilising almost as many objects as reachable while sitting cross-legged on the ground; the three track EP / album, however you look at it, is the definition of blissful Edenic existence and it is a major breath of fresh air, even in the least polluted sphere of sound.

Highly recommended for any meditational purpose.

Eccentricity = 9
Lucidity = 10
Intricacy = 10
Cadence = 9
Sentiment = 9

Median = 9.2

CloZee – Flow Like Water (SUBPAC-Optimized) [The Untz Premiere]

Crafted to represent the launch of a new SUBPAC M2x model, CloZee gives us Flow Like Water through The Untz which is as quintessential as CloZee gets; a classy execution of triumphant and positive ethnohop, with perfectly adjusted levels of sub for your physical response to those low frequencies. Whether you’re packing a SUBPAC and wearing your bass on your sleeve or not, this is a solid, albeit slightly short goody from our beloved CloZee.

Eccentricity = 9
Lucidity = 9
Intricacy = 9
Cadence = 9
Sentiment = 7

Median = 8.6

TRIBONE – Sonorous (feat. Solar Kid) [Desert Trax]

The Israeli neuro / psybass warrior known as Tribone is back this month with a heavy one through Desert Trax. This one sounds like the theme song you’d hear in a chase scene where you have an astral projection and your body is trying to catch your ascending higher self in a supersonic interstellar car-chase. How about that?

Eccentricity = 8
Lucidity = 9
Intricacy = 9
Cadence = 10
Sentiment = 7

Median = 8.6

Lil Fish & Mr Ours – The Fall

The French due link up to give you some of that European style boombap world fusion thing, that y’all know through artists like CloZee and Hugo Kant. A super easy and euphoric ride, not much more or less to it; hence, I can recommend it as concentration music.

Eccentricity = 7
Lucidity = 7
Intricacy = 9
Cadence = 9
Sentiment = 7

Median = 7.8

Subaqueous – Shatter Spell

Subaqueous returns for his 7th album, Shatter Spell, recorded as collaborations around the world in the course of a year. The album is mainly built around the subtly electronic 808-ladden ethnic bass style, and it should fit the palette of anyone into the Liquid Bloom, Deya Dova, Drumspyder, etc. league of music, mixed with the aesthetic of earlier psychill, i.e. Adham Shaikh, Shulman, etc. The instrumentation on the whole album sounds organically rich, however, being a fan of complicated synth-work, some of the wubs and some drum machine moments, i.e. standard crash hit, don’t quite do it for me. Nevertheless, Subaqueous is one of those artists who’s always given back to the community through unique live templates, sample packs, audio effect racks, and whole lot more, and respect for his level of ethnofusive musicianship should be given when its due, i.e. now.

Favourite track -> Invoco ft. Marya Stark & Boaz Drum, with some super unique arp work.

Eccentricity = 7
Lucidity = 7
Intricacy = 10
Cadence = 8
Sentiment = 9

Median = 8.2



Celt Islam – Warrior featuring Peppery

It’s super nice to hear the OG Celt Islam go back to the roots ethnic rubadub style that this blog loves and was one of the blog’s first finds, 4 or 5 years ago, as evident in the “Baghdad” album. Peppery delivers the spiritual MCing as well to bring ethnic bass music to one of its cores which is ethnic reggae dub. It’s safe to say that for me, this is where I see the don of Sufi Dub to shine the most. Alas, extra eccentricity points are due as this sound is non-mistakenly Celt Islam through and through; an ode to his place within the pillars of modern ethnofusion.

Eccentricity = 9
Lucidity = 9
Intricacy = 9
Cadence = 10
Sentiment = 10

Median = 9.4

WOODEDUB – Snake [OGD PROD]

French producers have been super busy this month, with another feature coming in the form of WOODEDUB’s digital dub sound, dialling things back to skanks and ethnic vibes before taking it up to very French electro leads, and eventually some strange hybrid form of psychedelic dub trance. It is a pretty strange set of aesthetics to mash-up but it somehow works and you should check it out.

Eccentricity = 8
Lucidity = 8
Intricacy = 8
Cadence = 9
Sentiment = 7

Median = 8

Feldub – Latin Walk [OGD PROD]

Another OGD PROD feature this month comes from Feldub, following the label’s digital dub aesthetic to bring deep basslines, Latin horns, and a healthy dose of sirens to keep you on your toes. This riddim is as solid as world dub gets with perfect interaction of all elements to give a seriously skankin groove to bop to.

Eccentricity = 8
Lucidity = 9
Intricacy = 9
Cadence = 10
Sentiment = 8

Median = 8.8

Tremor – Ava Reina Mora EP [ZZK Records]

ZZK Records’ maturity as a record label and Tremor’s quality as a group on this label are both brought to the foreground with Ava Reina Mora EP, sounding incredibly fresh and unique. I featured the first single from this EP, Resplandor, last month, but couldn’t skip a chance to highlight how incredible the other tracks like Agujeos en La Realidad are. This EP’s sound as interstellar lullaby is mentionable again, sounding somewhere between 70’s psychedelic rock, modern South American electronic music, and an other-worldly indie and Alt-J-esque-vibe. Apparently, the theme of the EP arises from all members of the band having kids during the conception of this album and that is strangely audible through these songs.

Eccentricity = 9
Lucidity = 9
Intricacy = 10
Cadence = 8
Sentiment = 9

Median = 9

For fans of Kaleema, Den Sorte Skole & Chanca Via Circuito.

Leveldva – Chillrave Compilation 001 [VA]

The Moscow-based imprint presents 22 tracks within the downtechno, slow tribal house, chillrave sector of the ethnofusion department of music. That’s a lot of long 7/8 minutes tunes with sluggish progression and medum-fi production styles which fits the album’s aesthetic. However, to my ears, it’s a little hit and miss and only a handful of majorly memorable moments are noted such as Alvaro Suarez’s super-cadent La Voz Del Tunche, and AIWAA’s brilliantly atmospheric Shaman’s Dream. Overall, this is 22 tracks for you to sift through if you aren’t looking for shock factor and want something easy and lethargically and enjoyably groovy to bop to.

Eccentricity = 7
Lucidity = 7
Intricacy = 9
Cadence = 8
Sentiment = 8

Median = 7.8

GAMA – Microscopic Cookbook [Chill Mountain]

The enigma of a human known as GAMA is back this month after a few months haul and with a full-length album that justifies the wait. Gama’s approach to seemingly malfunctioning yet oddly fluent song-writing is really brought to the limelight on this album, sounding like a bridge between Flying Lotus, Nicola Cruz, an Amon Tobin kind of attitude to organic foley rhythms, Aphex glitchiness, and a cute yet eerie sense of aesthetics. The album seems to contain all shades of numerous spectrums, from the organic natural sounds to highly industrial digital sounds, taking the concept of androgynousity to a new height. Microscopic Cookbook is arguably the year’s most technical slow house / downtechno type release, and GAMA’s attention to curious sound design makes zir stand out in this genre.

Eccentricity = 10
Lucidity = 10
Intricacy = 10
Cadence = 9
Sentiment = 9

Median = 9.6


Andi.Andean – A La Mananita [Canal Dub]

The Chilean producer is back in our blog with this standout track from the recent Canal Dub world riddims compilation, featuring the dubbier side of organic downtechno. What can we call this? Forest downdubno, slow floradub? The semantic possibilities are limitless. Regardless, Andi Andean’s lo-fi approach to this genre stands out as it keeps a hard-to-define level of intrigue to its groove. There’s a mega-limp approach and super punchy kick-like bass rhythms give it a heavy drive beneath all the bubbly and calming atmospherics. Certainly, one to peep and get confused yet zen to.

Eccentricity = 9
Lucidity = 8
Intricacy = 9
Cadence = 9
Sentiment = 7

Median = 8.4

PartyWave – Indian Summer [ShadowTrix Music]

PartyWave continuous with his wave of ethno-tinged trapestries on his home turf with ShadowTrix Music, and this song, ‘Indian Summer’, comes in an EP which also includes the previously featured track, Future G. The track’s a pretty catchy slow jam, and ticks all the right boxes for an ethnic trap bass-buster. Fans of that kind of minimal vibe, here’s one for your listening pleasures on that front.

Eccentricity = 8
Lucidity = 9
Intricacy = 8
Cadence = 9
Sentiment = 7

Median = 8.2

elete x Jon Casey – Sorceress [ZenSupremacy]

Halftime traptime rippers elete and Jon Casey bring the heaters with this one, gunnin straight down from the holster, making bass craters underneath their paths. This is definitely one of the finer moments of ethnic flute-ridden beatsmithery, and if you ain’t got your skank gurn on, you need to go to the sorceress and ask for an ounce of grade-A chiefable soul.
Esoteric gangsta shit for fans of less heavy Chee moments and a Thriftworks in an angry mood.

Eccentricity = 9
Lucidity = 9
Intricacy = 10
Cadence = 10
Sentiment = 7

Median = 9

VHOOR – Culture

Based around the Samba De Coco culture of Africa-descendant Brazilians which spread to other domains of Latin America, VHOOR’s new feature honours this culture while delivering a superb baile trap beat. I try not to feature ripped ethnic sounds as much as possible these days and I doubt these stems are recorded by the artist, but this right here, is what I consider the flagship export of today’s Brazilian producers, and given the opportunity to produce with real stems, I’m sure VHOOR would be take up the challenge.

Eccentricity = 9
Lucidity = 9
Intricacy = 8
Cadence = 10
Sentiment = 8

Median = 8.8

TAP & Sansai – Mik Bom

The Brazilian baile trap comrades Sansai & TAP link up, bringing that slum wave attitude to dope af 808s, merged with sensual battle-cry flutes, and that signature favela sound that they are known for. It’s a short and sweet affair, clocking at just over 2 minutes, but 30 seconds in, you can already tell this shit is legit.

Eccentricity = 9
Lucidity = 8
Intricacy = 9
Cadence = 9
Sentiment = 7

Median = 8.4

EKANY {Secret Gems} – Mans Not Hot / The Thing Go

Wasn’t expecting Roadman Shaq to make it to the blog this quickly but still, man’s not hot. I’ve give this all 0s, that’s how much man’s not hot, but since 2 plus 2 is four (quick maths), we gotta run some numbers. Someone put a Latin trap beat or something on while we work this out:

(a) = 2 + 2 = 4
(b) = (a) – 1 = 3
(a)+(b) = quick maths
Your dad = 44

Median = raw sauce

Hajimari & Nymbus – 21hz

Hajimari & Nymbus link up to bring a much-needed grime input into this blog, bridging some UK ting and the police sirens that entail with ancient flute slang; a kind of fusion that we don’t see too much of but works like a charm, considering how dark both grime and Middle Eastern music can get. This type o’ badman riddim is certainly welcome around here.

Eccentricity = 9
Lucidity = 8
Intricacy = 9
Cadence = 9
Sentiment = 8

Median = 8.6

Mr.Lif & Brass Menazeri – Crypt of Lost Styles (feat. eO)

Another legendary hip-hop MC is featured in this blog today as Mr.Lif delves into some swingy brass-ladden hip-hop territory with Crypt of Lost Styles. The tune is produced by eO who’s remix of Subaqueous’s Invoking is one of the author’s all-time downtempo ethnofusion tracks. This is perfect for anyone into the Chinese Man and Mazzi (Soul Purpose) league of hip-hop, a perfect meeting of two different realms of the musical underground. With lyrics like, “Adjacent men in suits, they rally troops for loot, they think your value’s moot, so you’re a new recruit, does that compute? or do you need another graph, hug a bomb, feel the blast, revel in the aftermath”, you know you’re in for some poetry.

Eccentricity = 9
Lucidity = 9
Intricacy = 9
Cadence = 10
Sentiment = 9

Median = 8.6

MORiLLO – Beyondcé

This is a moment to make the Beygency happy, with MORiLLO taking the ethno hook of Drunk In Love and making a trap banger out of it. It is an understandable move as that is a hella-catchy hook, and it’s sure to get the legions of Beyoncé trapping out to your ethnofusion set, should their attentions need more popular moments. Regardless of the source of the sample, MORiLLO keeps up his ability to make dope trap beats and Beyondcé is another one of his musical children, destined to have been produced.

Eccentricity = 8
Lucidity = 9
Intricacy = 8
Cadence = 9
Sentiment = 7

Median = 8.2

Balkan Beat Box – Kum Kum ft. A-WA (Dj BraindeaD ‘Zebra’ Remix)

A super clean dancefloor score from Balkan Beat Box, as remixed by DJ BraindeaD. This is the definition of anthemic global bass music, the sort of mass global appeal you can associate with the soundtrack of wide-spread video games like EA Fifa; the kind you’d expect to see in the opening of a football world cup; full of power, positive, polished, and rhythm, and waiting for your physical reception.

Eccentricity = 8
Lucidity = 10
Intricacy = 9
Cadence = 10
Sentiment = 7

Median = 8.8

Balkan Beats Soundsystem – Arigato Amigo

Here’s some another crystal-clearly-produced organic release in genres like Balkan Beats / Electro Swing / Ethnic Dub and all that comes in between them, crafted to warm your feet and heart in a Charlie Chaplin moment of expression. I’m not sure if it’s even possible to feel sad when anyone hears this music, but I’m curious. The production on this album is incredibly lush and professional, and it is very clearly music that is meant for a good time. This is perhaps most memorably evident in ‘Paname’; having been composed as an ode to Paris, the Balkan-influenced cabarets vibe is ever so present, and as the artists put it, the song “is a great drug against loneliness”. Balkan Beats are one of the most pioneering artists in this genre, hence why they literally take the name of the musical style, and having been perfecting their art since 1993, it does not come as a surprise that this record is so well produced. Only criticism is that the vocals come across slightly cheesy at times, but musically, this is world electronic fusion gold.

Eccentricity = 8
Lucidity = 10
Intricacy = 10
Cadence = 9
Sentiment = 8

Median = 9

Tuğçe Kurtiş – Songs for my Grandmother [Souq Records]

The unlikely combination of Turkish singer, Tuğçe Kurtiş, and her Paraguayan production counter-part, Santi, gives life to this authentic Anatolian house / slow rave EP, released through Souq Records. The latter’s South American influences are ever so subtly present, creating a sound that globally-minded modern nomads can relate to as a multicultural anthem of our times’ mixing heritage. Songs for My Grandmother has been composed in memory of Tuğçe’s grandparents whose passing occurred exactly a decade before this release, prompting the conception of this EP which pays its dues through vocal covers of her elders’ favourite songs. Heartwarming sentiment indeed, and backed up with mature musicianship.

Eccentricity = 8
Lucidity = 9
Intricacy = 8
Cadence = 10
Sentiment = 10

Median = 9

G-w!z – Align Thy Chakras

A recent review submission that I got was this conceptual EP by G-w!z that is composed as 7 songs, all portraying to different “chakra tunings” at different BPMs. The purpose behind this EP is to create almost medicinal meditations by allowing the listeners to focus on those chakras for each song. The concept is based on Hans Cousto’s Cosmic Octave which supposedly bases these claims on astronomical data, not much of which the author has found online. Although the concept borders on woo-woo realm, the Glitch Wizard told me that members of audience have told him they felt the album’s purpose when hearing it live, and beyond the scientific basis of your kundalini needs, it is a nice concept for an EP and there’s sentiment in that to be appreciated. Musically, you can expect squelchy worldly downtempo bass music, and while the production quality and overall groove can be improved, and some of the melodies seem a bit aimless, there are a lot of cool ideas and layers to dwell between.

Eccentricity = 8
Lucidity = 7
Intricacy = 10
Cadence = 7
Sentiment = 9

Median = 8.2

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