The only tension in the air here is the wait it's been since this brilliant collaboration between Mulatu Astatke and Hoodna Orchestra have this album come out, 'Tension' is released today!
This is easily one of the top ten album's of the year and if you don't know the work of Mulatu, just be aware that he is the founder of Ethio-jazz being the mix of Latin jazz and traditonal Ethiopian music, that has crossed the genre boundaries of jazz, psych, funk, hip-hop, spiritual jazz and more.
Strut, Soundway, Mochilla have all released Mulatu's music as he became more recognised for the originator/founder he is since 1972's 'Mulatu Of Ethiopia' album (sponsored by Ethiopian Airlines if I remember right and ironically recorded in New York) which gained popularity on the back of the soundtrack to Jim Jarmush's 'Broken Flowers' film and latterly, the 'Ethiopiques' compilation series.
So what's six tracks on 'Tension' like? Well, Batov's got their finest in psych/soul/funk in the Hoodna Orchestra with the additional bonus of Neal Sugarman (Dap-King) who also produced the album.
'Tension' is a huge misnomer as all the trademark vibes by Mulatu are of effortless cool: even on a thrusting funk of the title track - could be a OST track itself.
'Dung Gate' and 'Major' have been previous singles that have been favoured by obvious publications (Songlines, Uncut, The Guardian, etc) and BBC 6 Music's great and good, Cerys Matthews, Huey Morgan, Gilles Peterson and GP old producer, Benji B on BBC Radio 1.
'Major' is so good, like a 60s Cowboy film with a North African feel of Morricone on a Farfisa organ and 'Hulata' which follows is like slo-mo funk version (featuring Mulatu on piano - this guy is in his 80s!) with a sound of a Sun Ra Arkestra; shame the climax doesn't break down into a Sun Ra and His Astro-Intergalactic-Infinity Arkestra meets Salah Ragab plus The Cario Jazz Band in Egypt free jazz explosion (perhaps being saved for a 12", we live in hope)
'Yashan' returns to the cloppity clop of a jazz night club where James Bond would hold court and 'Deliah' (not the "Why, Why" Tom Jones tune) the one for the Flute Gang and some nice twangy guitar.
And in mentioning, Bond and Jones, the whole album is drenched in 60s Mod-jazz cool of New York - Addis - London, but produced today - it's nearly perfect (the only downside, is it me but does the artwork look like the guy that impersonates Albert Einstein of the energy advert?)
Artist: Mulatu Astatke and Hoodna Or8chestra
Title: Tension
Release date: 8th November, 2024
Label: Batov Records
Cat. No: BTR103
Format: Digital / Bandcamp
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