Shaolin Afronauts - Flight Of The Ancients (Sealed) (LP)

The mysterious afro-soul of The Shaolin Afronauts first echoed across the dance floors of Australia in late 2008. Heavily inspired by the sounds of 1970's West Africa, Ethiopia and the pioneering avant-garde jazz artists of the same period, The Shaolin Afronauts draw on the this highly innovative and sometimes volatile era in music, using it as inspiration to create music with the same fire and intensity. Though there is something refreshing and original about the Afronauts, their music could be described as somewhere in between the heavy Afrobeat of Fela Kuti and the Ethio-Jazz of Mulatu Astatke. The key to the Shaolin Afronauts unique sound is the line-up, which comprises of a three piece horn section, 5 piece rhythm section and three percussionists, and this polyrhythmic approach layers the groups sound with a mesmerizing and hypnotic texture. Kicking off with Journey Through Time (also released as the A side of the limited edition 12 inch vinyl single: FSR091) the multiple layers of percussion and rhythms indeed unleash an unstoppable groove, which is nicely balanced against the albums slower, more introspective moments, such as Rise With The Blind which along with haunting, mellow Scarab prove that contemporary afrobeat rooted music doesn?t always have to be an unrelenting, uptempo assault on the senses and can provide moments of sheer beauty and reflection. This added element of subtlety sets The Shaolin Afronauts music apart from much of the recent crop of other bands with similar influences, That said, these guys are still a collective capable of burning some stone cold classic and killer grooves, The Shaolin Afronauts are the band to watch out for in 2011! > They are a pure joy to watch and experience, as you swear these local players have been on the global circuit for years (Onion Magazine) > Blasting off into the funky stratosphere comes an amazing fresh crew of young brothers looking to mother Africa for salvation. And boy did they find it! (RRR Radio) > The spirit of Fela Kuti hidden beneath hoods!!! This killer Adelaide crew are bringin? the afro heat! (Nova 919) Tracklist 01: Journey Through Time 02: Rise With the Blind 03: Flight of the Ancients 04: Shaolin Theme 05: Kilimanjaro 06: Shira 07: The Quiet Lion 08: The Scarab