The driving force of The Shaolin Afronauts is Ross McHenry, the ARIA nominated composer, bandleader, producer and bassist based in Adelaide. Alongside co collaborators Lachlan Ridge and Dylan Marshall,
It is their opmbined wide ranging musical tastes, impeccable production
and instrumental skills that always result in music that is original,
thought provoking, unexpected and quite beautiful.
2011's debut album 'Flight Of The Ancients' was a critical and commercial success story. The follow up 'Quest Under Capricorn'
further cemented the bands reputation for forging their own very
particular sound - and now in 2014 - as the band prepare to tour Japan
& Europe (including 2 prestigious shows at The Glastonbury Festival) Freestyle Records is proud to present the expansive & epic Follow The Path.
Follow The Path is a 21 track, double album that
expands upon and delves further into the musical genres that inspire and
influence the group - rhythmic and pulsating afrobeat, and the
avant-garde/spiritual jazz inspired by artists such as Sun Ra and Mulatu Astatke.
One superb example of how this band execute their musical vocabulary is Ojo Abameta,
a percussive & frenetic number, built on a bed of amazing
percussion and topped off with some deeply sweet ensemble horns, the end
result is reminiscent of African hi life sounds which acts as a curtain
raiser for this incredible album. The albums title track 'Follow The Path'
uses afrobeat as a template, but with strong funk undercurrents, as the
insistent beat underpins the beautiful ensemble horns and bubbling
analogue synth sounds to dramatic and hypnotic effect.
In contrast, the second volume emphasises The Shaolin Afronauts more
experimental and introspective side. As an example, the three part suite
Outside Beyond/Three Ways Back is a genuine musical
journey that takes the listener through many musical moods and
textures...;this is deep, spiritually rooted music that locates the band
almost in a genre of their very own - having such an original and
individual approach and sound.
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