説明
180gの2LP仕様、豪華なゲートフォールドスリーブにJeff Maoのライナーノーツとスタジオフォトを収録。
【「注目すべきプロデューサーであることは間違いない」 by Gilles Peterson】ハンガリー出身のプロデューサー兼キーボーディスト、Szabolcs Bognárが手がけるプロジェクト、Àbáseの新作『Awakening』は、ベルリンを拠点にグローバルな視点で制作された注目のアルバム。ハンガリー、ドイツ、ガーナ、オーストラリアのミュージシャンを集め、彼の多彩な音楽的影響、ラゴスのアフロビートやハンガリー民謡、ヨルバのリズム、ハウス、テクノ、ヒップホップなどを融合させた作品。『Awakening』は、彼の結婚、父親としての新しい経験、愛する人の喪失を経て生まれた深い自己内省と統一、対話を表現している。
アルバムは、ベルリンのBrewery Studiosで4日間かけて録音され、モーダル即興演奏とColtrane風のアプローチが特徴。Eric Owusuのヴォーカルとドライビングパーカッションが際立つ「Destruction Everywhere」や「Menidaso」、アフロビートとスピリチュアルジャズの融合が印象的な「Shango」など、Szabolcsの音楽的ビジョンを体現した楽曲が並ぶ。また、ハンガリー民謡「Gyászba Borult Isten Csillagvára」を大胆にアレンジし、J Dillaへのオマージュ「Shining」、Sun Raへのトリビュート「Sunisaway」にはSun Ra Arkestraのメンバーも参加している。
この新作『Awakening』は、Àbáseにとって新たな章の始まりを意味し、アナログ音楽の保存と発展に取り組むAnalogue Foundationとのパートナーシップのもとリリースされる。
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Greeting Mother Sea Intro
2. Shining
3. Menidaso My Hope
4. Destruction Everywhere
5. Orbit Sirius Sunmo Mi Ee
6. Bloom Flora
7. Gyaszba Borult Isten Csillagvara
8. Home
9. Vermezo
10. Sun Is Away
11. Shango
12. Greeting Mother Sea Outro
2LP on 180g vinyl. Housed in a deluxe gatefold 'tip on' sleeve with full liner notes (Jeff Mao) and studio photography.
On a quest for cosmic grooves of unity, Àbáse is the imagination of Hungarian producer and keyboardist Szabolcs Bognár. Now based in Berlin, he’s become a protagonist of a fast-rising jazz movement in the German capital. Bringing together musicians from Hungary, Germany, Ghana and Australia for moving project with a global outlook - here is his highly anticipated new album ‘Awakening’ released by Analogue Foundation and Oshu Records
Created following a move to Berlin, marriage, new parenthood, and the inevitable interrogation of mortality that takes place when a loved one has transitioned, ‘Awakening’ demonstrates a deep understanding of music’s ability to cross time and geographic boundaries, conveying a message of unity, dialogue and self-reflection. Recorded in four days at Berlin's Brewery Studios, the album coalesces Àbáse’s varied musical influences and reference points (classic Lagos Afrobeat, traditional Hungarian folk, Yoruba rhythms, house and techno, hip-hop et al) with exquisite modalimprovisation à la Coltrane, spurred by Szabolcs’ introspection.
“Awakening was the first working title I gave to the project, and I decided to stick with it as it felt authentic and descriptive of what I wanted to express. The name comes from the concept that babies can hear and remember their parents voices from the belly, they recognise the voices upon birth and can be soothed with them. Being born is to enter an elevated state of existence, transitioning from just sounds and feelings to sight upon birth. I believe the way we experience life on earth and trying to make sense of the universe will shift upon our transition or ‘death’, and its only a pathway to something higher. The imagined moment of rebirth and entering to this new realm of existence is what I call “Awakening”.
Mostly composed of first and second takes with minimal overdubs, a striking level of intimacy is achieved between Szabolcs, Ziggy Zeitgeist (drums), Ori Jacobson (saxophone), Fanni Zahár (flute), Andras Koroknay (bass, synths), Ernö Hock (double bass) and Eric Owusu (vocals, percussion). This intimacy extends to the listening experience, with moments like atmospheric opener ‘Greeting Mother Sea’ and ‘Bloom (Flora)’ welcoming listener’s into Ábàse’s world through trance-inducing, glistening piano motifs, swirling synths and fluttering woodwinds.
Singles ‘Destruction Everywhere’ and ‘Menidaso’, paired with ‘Shango’, perhaps best highlight Szabolcs’ worldview and efforts to bridge creative ideas and cultural viewpoints. All three tracks are a bold fusion of spiritual jazz and afrobeat, with the latter two featuring the Twi vocal and driving percussion of Eric Owusu. Elsewhere, Szabolcs explores his own heritage with a stirring iteration of Hungarian folk song ‘Gyászba Borult Isten Csillagvára (God’s Star Castle Has Fallen To Grief)’, whilst also nodding to musical lineage through J Dilla homage ‘Shining’, and ‘Sunisaway’, a tribute to Sun Ra upon which Sun Ra Arkestra members Cecil Brooks and Knoel Scott are warmly welcomed to contribute.
‘Awakening’ is a new chapter for Àbáse, whose work has already drawn widespread critical acclaim. Debut album ‘Laroyê’, recorded entirely during a five- month trip to Brazil, found global praise from the likes of The Guardian, BBC Radio 6, Soulection, KEXP and Complex. Szabolcs has toured and collaborated as a keyboardist with the likes of Wayne Snow, Dele Sosimi, Pat Thomas and Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange. The new album begins an era of partnership with Analogue Foundation, who are dedicated to preserving and furthering analogue creation via record releases, international events, and activities at its recording studio and hi-fi listening bar. The Foundation is headed up by Grammy-winning New York City recording and mixing engineer Russ Elevado (D’Angelo, Erykah Badu), Audio-Technica, Soundwalk Collective, and Berlin recording and mix engineer Erik Breuer.
Personnel: Fanni Zahár, Ori Jacobson Szabolcs Bognár, Eric Owusu, Ernő Hock & Ziggy Zeitgeist, drums
With Special Guests: Flóra Bognár, Youka Snell, Cecil Brooks Knoel Scott, Dumama, Rhea Sodemann, Wayne Snow.
Liner notes by Jeff 'Chairman' Mao and session photos by Dario Raspudic.
"Certainly a producer to watch" -Gilles Peterson
“ Hungarian producer Àbáse blends west African and Brazilian rhythms with a satisfying and uncluttered efficacy on Laroyê” -The Guardian
“We were instantly gripped upon hearing the work of Hungarian jazz collaborative project Àbáse” Stamp The Wax
