D7002 - Skeletons - Mulatu b/w Positive Force
…I’m a big fan of Benedic Lamdin (AKA Nostalgia 77)… Massively talented as a composer, arranger, songwriter, producer, and guitarist across hella genres who’s been quite prolific since he started releasing stuff in 2004. Seriously, check out his catalog- pretty sure that there’s something for everyone there, and also check out the Impossible Ark (his amazing contemporary jazz label) as well.
One of my favorite projects of his is a 2010 LP called Skeletons - Smile. From the Bandcamp page of that album: “These musicians never stood in the studio together, they just passed through my house or left some scraps of sound behind after sessions we were working on.” The project started life as material recorded for a library music company, playing into the hands of "the current vogue for a certain style of African jazz", as Lamdin puts it, in a refreshing bout of honesty. Apparently Lamdin got so absorbed in this process of musical forgery a whole LP emerged, and if the producer wasn't so darned honest, you might never know that this wasn't the work of a genuine, and wholly exciting spiritual jazz troupe.”
Ben was actually the first person to get back to me when I was toying with the idea of starting Devin’s 7s, and I owe him a debt of gratitude for humoring me when I didn’t even have a company, business license, resale certificate, or anything. It’s because of his positivity and willingness to work with me that I started this in the first place. He’s insanely humble, friendly, and so soft spoken that I was worried I was going to harsh his mellow with my enthusiasm about working with him when we spoke, but he remained amiable and patient while I got everything I needed to do this sorted out.
Mulatu was another dream 7 of mine. (yes, I know they all are, but)… It’s just so good; and while I own the Smile LP I just really wanted this record to exist and have it in my collection. It’s a slow burner that take cues from Mulatu Astatke but flipping them a bit and making them even groovier, funkier, and heavier. Dig it.
The flip side is Positive Force, an uptempo original composition perfect for backyard barbecues. I was on the fence about what to put on the flip as I like the whole album, but this track is a fan favorite and contrasts nicely with the A side in my opinion.
Limited run of 500 copies.
…I’m a big fan of Benedic Lamdin (AKA Nostalgia 77)… Massively talented as a composer, arranger, songwriter, producer, and guitarist across hella genres who’s been quite prolific since he started releasing stuff in 2004. Seriously, check out his catalog- pretty sure that there’s something for everyone there, and also check out the Impossible Ark (his amazing contemporary jazz label) as well.
One of my favorite projects of his is a 2010 LP called Skeletons - Smile. From the Bandcamp page of that album: “These musicians never stood in the studio together, they just passed through my house or left some scraps of sound behind after sessions we were working on.” The project started life as material recorded for a library music company, playing into the hands of "the current vogue for a certain style of African jazz", as Lamdin puts it, in a refreshing bout of honesty. Apparently Lamdin got so absorbed in this process of musical forgery a whole LP emerged, and if the producer wasn't so darned honest, you might never know that this wasn't the work of a genuine, and wholly exciting spiritual jazz troupe.”
Ben was actually the first person to get back to me when I was toying with the idea of starting Devin’s 7s, and I owe him a debt of gratitude for humoring me when I didn’t even have a company, business license, resale certificate, or anything. It’s because of his positivity and willingness to work with me that I started this in the first place. He’s insanely humble, friendly, and so soft spoken that I was worried I was going to harsh his mellow with my enthusiasm about working with him when we spoke, but he remained amiable and patient while I got everything I needed to do this sorted out.
Mulatu was another dream 7 of mine. (yes, I know they all are, but)… It’s just so good; and while I own the Smile LP I just really wanted this record to exist and have it in my collection. It’s a slow burner that take cues from Mulatu Astatke but flipping them a bit and making them even groovier, funkier, and heavier. Dig it.
The flip side is Positive Force, an uptempo original composition perfect for backyard barbecues. I was on the fence about what to put on the flip as I like the whole album, but this track is a fan favorite and contrasts nicely with the A side in my opinion.