***Repressed again, by popular demand***
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! .
"What an album - heavy tunes and great recording! Will be spinning this for sure!" - Jazz & Milk (Dusty)
"Nicely done, its got the look and sound of a sought after rare groove gem." - DJ Graham B
"Sonically, this is an amazing album - I love the mix and master on this. Secondly, The Shaolin Afronauts are an amazing band - the musicianship, the arrangements - they're carving out a new edge on a traditional foundation - Instrumentation is tops and everyone in this group Lays. It. Down. All class!" - SpinSpinNYC (Nutricious)
"A superb piece of Afro Jazz it seriously kicks !It's Fela Kuti meets Pigbag." - Ketch A Vibe (Aja)
"Sounds heavy. Loving the afro funk vibes." - Nice Up (DJ Shepdog)
"A stripped back modern afrobeat energy locked into one great album" - BaseFM 107.3 (CoopaBlu)
"Journey Through Time' is such an awesome cut, it can move a set in so many directions and is just such a classic groove. One of the highlights of 2011 so far." - Black & Blue Radio Show (Paul Gamblin)
"a near perfect revisit of Mulato's and Fela's time and style, exquisitely executed" - D-Radio Kultur (Oliver Schwesig)
"Shaolin Afronauts can take their place at the forefront of the afrobeat revival, tight drums, on point horns and killer hooks - boom!" - First Word Records (Gilla)
"I've been spinning the single for months and the feedback is always strong - people often mistake it for Fela, or are compelled to request some because of it's echoes of the classic nigerian sound." - Hip City Radio Show (Chris Lawyer)
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! .
"What an album - heavy tunes and great recording! Will be spinning this for sure!" - Jazz & Milk (Dusty)
"Nicely done, its got the look and sound of a sought after rare groove gem." - DJ Graham B
"Sonically, this is an amazing album - I love the mix and master on this. Secondly, The Shaolin Afronauts are an amazing band - the musicianship, the arrangements - they're carving out a new edge on a traditional foundation - Instrumentation is tops and everyone in this group Lays. It. Down. All class!" - SpinSpinNYC (Nutricious)
"A superb piece of Afro Jazz it seriously kicks !It's Fela Kuti meets Pigbag." - Ketch A Vibe (Aja)
"Sounds heavy. Loving the afro funk vibes." - Nice Up (DJ Shepdog)
"A stripped back modern afrobeat energy locked into one great album" - BaseFM 107.3 (CoopaBlu)
"Journey Through Time' is such an awesome cut, it can move a set in so many directions and is just such a classic groove. One of the highlights of 2011 so far." - Black & Blue Radio Show (Paul Gamblin)
"a near perfect revisit of Mulato's and Fela's time and style, exquisitely executed" - D-Radio Kultur (Oliver Schwesig)
"Shaolin Afronauts can take their place at the forefront of the afrobeat revival, tight drums, on point horns and killer hooks - boom!" - First Word Records (Gilla)
"I've been spinning the single for months and the feedback is always strong - people often mistake it for Fela, or are compelled to request some because of it's echoes of the classic nigerian sound." - Hip City Radio Show (Chris Lawyer)
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