CD Reviews

Antibalas Security Anti-/ 2007 ♥♥♥ 1/2	If you’ve been to one of their live shows at the Jazz Winnipeg Festival, then you’ve been quietly anticipating the latest release from Antibalas. You may be surprised by what you hear on Security, though. The album serves as somewhat of a departure from the straight-up Afrobeat of previous releases, and this is due in no small part to the hand of producer John McEntire, who has convinced the band to mine some new sonic terrain here. Opener “Beaten Metal” signals this change with its clattering percussion and skronked-out horns going it alone for the first third of the song before being joined by the more familiar walking bassline. But the familiar is flipped when the keyboards come in all scattershot and McEntire adds a healthy dose of effects. The influence of his band, Tortoise, is audible. “Filibuster XXX” harkens back to prior Antibalas material with a strong horn line and a pulsating rhythm section supporting heavily political vocals by Amayo. But even as it speaks to where the band has come from, the song also points to where they’re going — McEntire’s layering of the composite parts has a new depth and breadth as the song spreads out and finds every corner of the listener’s ear. The gem of the album is the penultimate track, “I.C.E.” which at times seems to be channelling Sun Ra with rumbling-thunder drums and a spooky, repetitive clavinet line. It’s unlike anything Antibalas have ever recorded prior and leaves me eagerly waiting to hear more in a similar vein.   Michael Elves, Volunteer Staff
Ojos de Brujo Techarí Six Degrees/ 2006 ♥♥♥♥	I think we have Starbucks to blame for the abundance of dreck that’s out there masquerading as “world” music. People are looking for exotic (yet, oxymoronically, safe) sounds that go well with their dark roast, and some artists and labels are all-too-eager to cash in on this. Thankfully, the folks at Six Degrees records have always been above reproach in their ongoing Travels Series, and this continues with Techarí, the latest from Barcelona’s Ojos de Brujo (Eyes of the Wizard). This is world music for listeners who take pleasure in sonic adventure. Ojos de Brujo’s roots are in traditional flamenco and rumba, but they have infused elements of hip-hop, dub and nu-jazz into their compositions to create an album of highly engaging music that is sure to provoke a response on the dance floor (or at least get your toe tapping if you’re listening in the car). Songs like “Feedback,” that augment the frantic finger-picked guitar with percussive loops, are a thoroughly modern take on a classical Spanish form, while others, including “Todo Tiende,” draw on Indian bhangra with its propulsive tabla. All of the instrumentation is in service of the incredible vocals of Marina Abad, who provides the soul at the core of Techarí. Techarí is a shining example of the upside of globalism and the marketplace of ideas; Ojos de Brujo incorporate musical elements from around the world that they are then able to brew up into something entirely new and incredibly engaging. Michael Elves, Volunteer Staff
Vega4 You & Others Sony / BMG/ 2006 ♥♥♥e&	Once again, ABC’s hit drama Grey’s Anatomy has introduced us to one of the U.K.’s best young bands, Vega4. Their hit “Life is Beautiful” was featured on the show late last year after the band’s second album topped the always-competitive Irish charts in 2006. The group has a worldly sound; fitting as lead singer Johnny McDaid comes from Ireland, drummer Bryan McClellan is a local boy from here in Canada, guitarist Bruce Gainsford hails from New Zealand and bassist Simon Walker is from England. The musical influences of each member combine to produce an acoustically amazing album that was honed by famed U2 producer Jackknife Lee. Lee’s exuberance can be found on every track on the album, albeit slightly toned down from his days remixing at Abbey Road. The first single, “You and Me,” is an uplifting track that builds its tempo from the start only to run smack dab into a rousing finish reminiscent of the possibility theme on U2’s Boy. “Traffic Jam” is a heavy rock song with heart and melody, in line with the sing-a-long melodies characteristic of other Brit rockers Snow Patrol, Augustana and Embrace. The album never gets stale, constantly bringing you up and down with transcendent tracks that will, in my opinion, sound twice as good in a live setting as they do on the album. Let’s just hope that the group doesn’t fall into the pop-radio pitfall that often claims amazing independent artists after a slight taste of success in North America. This band is still in its infancy but the talent and promise is astounding. Keep your eyes and ears open for Vega4 in the coming years. Liam Brennan