Re: BT12 – Little Axe

#2512855  | PERMALINK

jan-dark

Registriert seit: 31.07.2003

Beiträge: 3,410

hab mal nachgesehen. es handelt sich um ein projekt von skip mc donald ehemals ua bei tackhead und auf dem on u sound label. die alten kumpels keith le blanc und doug wimbish sind auch dabei wie auch adrian sherwood. der reggae sänger ist wohl junior delgado. im folgenden der amg text zu der platte..

Skip McDonald's Little Axe returns for Champagne and Grits, and it could well be the band's finest, most expansive set yet. Little Axe's brand of blues-gospel-dub is probably the most interesting and adventurous of all the projects that attempt to infuse new life into the blues, and Champagne and Grits rivals their debut not only for an outstanding set of tunes, but for sheer sonic experimentation as well. Skip runs the show with plenty of help from producer Adrian Sherwood, and of course Doug Wimbish and Keith LeBlanc are on hand as well. The set starts with a pure acoustic blues, but then enters territory charted only by this band. It's still the blues, but there are gospel-flavored vocals, eerie harmonica, and fantastic dub elements all combined into a singular style. Disembodied vocals and sermons waft in and out of the ether, along with washes of electronica, soulful blues guitar, and wicked basslines. A couple of the tracks venture a bit further into reggae territory (with some help from Junior Delgado), but it still all feels bluesy despite the additional trappings. McDonald knows and respects the past, but he knows how to build on it, not enshrine it. Little Axe is the only band that does what it does, and does it brilliantly. Ancient to the future. Highly recommended.

by Sean Westergaard

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almost happy • almost satisfied • the restless one • has found some peace tonight