You know that even if there's a hint of Naarm/Melbourne area going on (unless it's Belle Gibson) we're going to get excited, but when it's a new album by band of one of the leading lights, Ziggy Zeitgeist, you know we are going to feeling the spirit of 'Inspire // Radicalise'.
You'll recall Ziggy is now resident in Berlin and we were ready for this "modern West African Disco" when the single came out, 'Celebrate Some Time' (see review HERE) and it would feature "a cast of 1000s"
Well that might be a little far fetched but it is a 18 track release and the guys can do a 'modern' jazz-funk groove as good as they could in the 70s, even better - check the opener 'Astras Theme', 'Clearly Packing' (one for the flute gang) and 'Just One Bump' (see video below).
We the album features and is co-produced by Lewis 'Good Mood' Moody on keyboards and moog bass that adds that bit of jazz-fusion funk like 'Who's The Kid?' (Ed. Prince?), 'Cyberpunk', the part broken 'Wavy' and the killer 'Lifestyles Of Hip And The Crazy' (Ed. Jaco?)
Just a couple of vocal tracks, Karai on 'Shine Your Light' and talking of Berlin, you may recognise the name Desney Bailey from her collaborations with nu-jazzers Slope, Deyampert and Jazzanova and she features on the track 'Slyvester' as does Eric 'Sunny' Owusu who is prominent on congas and percussion throughout the album.
As the album closes with 'Midas Touch' the echos 'Shades Of Oshu - Collaborations From The New Berlin Jazz Underground'
I like the concept that there are tracks that are 'Inspire' and others that 'Radicalise' and who's to say what side artists like Slyvester, Sly Stone, Return To Forever, James Brown or Kraftwerk. I think they've all had an input on the album from a distance of course and ZFEE have done them proud and have got to be one of the hottest bands in town.
‘Inspire // Radicalise' is going to be a benchmark album for 2025 and the let's celebrate now!
Artist: Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange
Title: Inspire // Radicalise
Release date: 18th April, 2025
Label : Energy Exchange Records
Catalog Number : TBC
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