Delicious dub
Steve Baylin
|
McPherson : I felt the pain down in Africa
|
Andrew McPherson and Eccodek dig deep and discover More Africa in Us
Andrew McPherson knows a good thing when he hears it. Back in 2000, the soft-spoken producer, remixer and diehard dub fiend was wrapped up in studio sessions with Rwandan vocalist Ignace Ntirushwamaboko. McPherson was getting ready to put the final touches on what was shaping up to be a promising solo record when he hit some unforeseen "personal issues," and had to bail out, leaving the unfinished set in limbo. "We were just sitting on the masters," says McPherson over the phone from his home base in Guelph, fighting the flu. "And after a while I just said to myself, 'This is crazy man, we've got these unbelievable performances, and it's a crying shame that nobody is going to hear this stuff.' So I wrote to Ignace in Ottawa and said, 'Look, I'm cooking up this project. Do you mind if I plunder the archives a bit?'"
Ntirushwamaboko agreed: "Make something of it," he said.
And make something he did. Inspired by the genre splicing work of dub mavericks Adrian Sherwood and Bill Laswell, McPherson and his cohorts in the contemporary fusion ensemble Eccodek "cooked up" 2003's cross-cultural feast More Africa In Us, featuring both Ntirushwamaboko and Mali singer Samba Diallo.
Fusing African vocals and sleek urban jazz with exotic Eastern melodies and modest slivers of electronica, the nine-track collection is an aural indulgence of magnetic grooves, percolating beats and bone-rattling bass: rhythmic nourishment for the mind, body and soul.
"I knew that I certainly wanted it to have
a nice organic feel throughout," says McPherson of the production. "I didn't want it to become mechanical. But the litmus test was not doing a disservice to the singers, because those vocals are just so beautiful. I just really wanted that to be the primary focus for the listener, because they create such a lovely vibe. But I'm such a texture freak that I just couldn't resist getting my hands into the mix."McPherson's fingerprints are indeed all over More Africa In Us, but never at the expense of the artists and their traditions.
"It's so important for me to be respectful of the cultural source and to bring something new to the table and not just shamelessly steal," he insists. "I think it's really important that we open our doors to interpretation of other cultures' work, because they want to come in the door as well. I kind of hope that's what the record is doing for people, encouraging that spirit of unity and openness."
ANDREW MCPHERSON AND ECCODEK W/ RISE ASHEN
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 AT 9 P.M., $7
BLACK SHEEP INN
Dear Andrew,
I was hugely impressed by your work. I found African music incredibly beautiful and the way you blend it with your own remarkable musical skills. I'll get into it in my next life! As far as the erhu goes, I have one but didn't find anyone who could get me going on it. I bought this instrument in Nanning/Guangxi 2 years ago. I love this instrument. Love to get together with you over coffee sometime in Guelph. I live in Durham. Do visit my website!
Best!
|
|
Peter von Zezschwitz
|
|
|
|
| ANDREW MCPHERSON AND ECCODEK mine & mix musical gold |
|
More Africa In Us is just effin' cool to listen too.
Until now I didn't know too much about Andrew McPherson or Eccodek or the backstory behind this CD but I did know about More Africa In Us. You see, a friend of mine who's a much bigger musical freak than I am left More Africa In Us lying around and I put it on and wow...was it ever one cool listening experience. Silly bastard that I am I never bothered to remember who created it. All I remembered was the title on the disc--More Africa In Us.
Hey, if you're really stuck for a CD I seriously suggest this one. Bloody friggin' good.
|
|
Pedro Eggers
|
|
|
|
