The Perlich Post: Master Class In Earthology

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Master Class In Earthology

As it turns out, the first great album release of 2010 is not Vampire Weekend's Contra after all, it's the Whitefield Brothers' Earthology (Now Again), the long overdue follow-up to 2002's In The Raw (Soul Fire).
Whereas the full-tilt garage funk of Germany's mysterious Jan and Max Weissenfeldt had been putting down under their Whitefield Brothers alias – they're also known as the Poets Of Rhythm, Pan-Atlantics, Soul-Saints Orchestra, Mighty Continentals, Bus People Express and the Malcouns – had already begun showing the hallmarks of a West African inspiration, they've worked through their Afrobeat jones in the years between Whitefield sessions. These hombres aren't your typical "world music" dabblers, they're more like dedicated cultural research scientists seeking alternative remedies for repetitive rhythm fatigue in hopes of ultimately finding a cure for indie-rock boredom. All of the time not spent collaborating with musicians from around the globe to glean their modes and moves (Max reportedly even took a fact-finding trip to Burma to pick up the finer points of Saing Waing music), they were piecing together the funky secrets from the ancient vinyl artifacts they'd excavated.

That's not to suggest the resulting Earthology album sounds like it came out of a laboratory. On the contrary, the Whitefield Brothers pride themselves on their "raw soul" attack and although some of the grime has been removed to give clarity to the colouring of the gongs, flutes and various exotic string and percussion textures, the grooves are still built on a foundation of hard-pounding drums and bumpin' basslines which remain stone solid throughout.
Since they've had the necessary time to absorb their influences, they're able to create exciting new compositions that are uniquely Whitefield Brothers which may recall something you've heard from Multatu Astatke, Salah Ragab or Mustafa Özkent without aping them. The addition of guest vocalists including the fantastic Bajka along with credible rappers Percee P, Mr. Lif, MED and Edan in addition to the stellar supporting cast of musicians from El Michels Affair, Antibalas as well as the mighty Dap Kings horn section ensures that there will be no mistaking Earthology for anything but a contemporary funk masterwork of devastating power.

Boston-raised MCs Mr. Lif and Edan throwdown on the album's lead single, The Gift which you can check out here.
Now Again has just released The Gift as part of a 12" EP featuring Oh No's Gifted remix and instrumental versions of each. It comes housed in a beautifully illustrated sleeve by Lewis Heritz who also designed the dope Earthology cover.

Obsessive collectors should note that there's also a super limited Whitefield Brothers seven-inch single which boasts the otherwise unavailable track Savannahstan (with Castor Pollux on drums). It's available exclusively with initial copies of Earthology purchased at the Stones Throw site. See link below.