RELEASE DATE: MAY 2015
LINKS
https://soundcloud.com/district-six-records/sets/district007_eardrum_colonised
http://vimeo.com/119100139
Hailing from London, Eardrum create sounds that reflect their harsh urban
surroundings while dreaming of African suns and open skies. Formed in the early
1990s when London based Richard Olatunde Baker met Chicago native Lou Ciccotelli,
the two percussionists found they shared a love of Sun Ra, West African tribal
drumming and dub reggae. Drawing on a pool of like minded seasoned musicians
Eardrum forge an electric, elastic, experimental sound rooted in Nigerian and
Ghanaian trance music, King Tubby’s exotic dub tapestries and free jazz.
District Six records are proud to be releasing Eardrums' fourth album, 'Colonised',
a testament to the methods of both improvisation – afrobeat, free jazz, musique
concrète and carnival street music – and the insularity of studio manipulation.
Initially recorded as a live band one-take session, Colonised is a powerhouse
rhythm machine with great cosmic flair and deep interstellar improvisations
coloured with Eritrean, Nigerian and Egyption vocal tradition amidst the dark
sonic cityscapes of London life.
Colonised is the link between the ambient rhythmscape of Eardrums’ debut album Last
Light (Leaf Label) and the dynamic, unpredictable energy of Eardrums’ live
performances, whilst remaining a reflection of the city they hail from - diverse
beautiful, confusing, moving to wild rhythms and talking in strange tongues.
THE BAND MEMBERS
RICHARD OLATUNDE BAKER (talking drum/percussion)
Original founder and the band’s producer/studio engineer, he is also one of
the best talking drummers born outside of Nigeria. Having toured with Tony
Allen as part of the “Lagos No Shaking’ tour as well as Mulatu Astatke’s latest
band, he has since established himself as a prominent UK Future-Afro visionary
LOU CICCOTELLI (drumkit)
Co-founder, previously of noise merchants God and Spleen, with a wide spectrum
of Avant-Rock, Jazz and West African drumming musical capabilities, he is
currently also playing with Yaabafunk
JASON YARDE (saxophones/percussion)
One of the most prolific and recognised UK jazz musicians of the last 15
years. Apart from his own BBC compositions, his endless credits include Jazz
Warriors, Roy Ayers, Hugh Masekela, Andrew Hill, Jazz Jamaica, Terri Walker
PAT THOMAS (keyboards/FX)
Avid Oxford improvisor and Jazz composer, with a magical sonic range akin to
the enigmatic Sun Ra, his credits include Tony Corbett, Lol Coxhill, Black Top
and the Enlightenment Ensemble who just performed John Coltraine's Love Supreme
album at Union Chapel in London.
AYOKUNLE ODIA (saxophone)
Songwriter and poet with an impressive Afro-jazz background, including
performing at the Lagos shrine with Fela Kuti
HARVIR SINGH SAHOTA (tabla)
A fiery up and coming tabla player and genius “rythmatician”. He is able to
blend a traditional/religious style with the new and experimental
AGE NORTHOVER (saxophones)
Exuding a well travelled palette, from Balkan to classical Indian styles, he
brings a huge array of colours and emotions to the pot
TREVOR EDWARDS (trombone)
A well known name on the Jazz/Reggae/Latin circuit his credits range from
Aswad, to Ska Cubano, to Soothsayers
AYANDELEDAYO ORIGADE (omele bata)
Bearing the ancestoral name of a traditional Yoruba drummer, his rhythmic
patterns are at the heart of the EARDRUM framework. His credits also include
Ayinde Wasiu, Sikiru Barrister, as well co-producing Musilu, son of the
legendary Haruna Isola.
NICK WALTERS (trumpet)
Another up and coming prolific player with a broad stylistic palette and flair
for exuberant solos
FEATURED VOCALISTS
Helen Isibor
Nigerian born singer-songwriter, composer and performance artist harnessing
influences from avant-garde, psychedelic, tribal and meditative arts and drawing
inspiration from 70’s musical pioneers such as Fela Kuti and Can.
Saba Tewelde
Born in Eritrea and influenced by Jazz, R&B, Hip Hop and tradiotional music,
Saba is part of German world music nominee group InjerSoul
Empress *1
Of African and Arabian heritage, prolific and passionate about her art, she has
chosen to express herself through metaphor, meter and rhyme.
