The
first thing that strikes you about the new Red Snapper album is how
much the band have raised their game. There's no reason why bands
shouldn't get better over time, it's just that a lot of names don't
stay hungry and creative.
To
start with it's a great idea; an album inspired by the band’s
recent soundtrack for cult 70s Senegalese road movie "ToukiBouki" - the first independent African film which was recently
restored by Martin Scorcese and which is first and foremost an
afro-funk odyssey in itself. Red Snapper have toured with the film
for a year, playing the soundtrack live to audiences across Europe;
themes from the score having been developed and extended to form
Hyena. Hitting the studio at the end of this long haul on the road
has delivered a super-tight energized performance, reminiscent of a
1970’s approach to recording.
And
the 70's are all over this soundtrack, combining beautifully with a
cutting edge futuristic musicality that sets Red Snapper apart. Hyena
is a reflection of Red Snapper’s work over the last two decades.
They don’t just pull it off, they make it sound easy, and that must
be the result of touring hard before putting the tracks to tape.
This
is more than a soundtrack..... Hyena is a timeless, African
influenced album which has as much to do with the future as it has
the past.
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