Over the course of three decades, visionary bassit/producer Bill Laswell has been one of the most prolific and restlessly creative forces in contemporary music, always a few steps ahead of the curve, EVOLUTION/REVOLUTION.
AGAINST EMPIRE, a new catagory of magical, electro/acoustic technology. Further research may shed a most revealing light on thr development of sound storage in material culture.
AGAINST EMPIRE projects a hybrid activity, constantly evolving texture crashes against smooth, unfolding rhythms built around the solid and elastic drum foundations of four iconic drummers - Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Hideo Yamaki (Japan's top drummer) and Satoyasu Shomura (Japanese pop phenomenon). The legendary saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, especially known for his radical collaborations with John Coltrane, versatile multi-instrumentalist Peter Apfelbaum, minimal contributions from the great Herbie Hancock on electric piano and the unmistakable touch of master percussionist Adam Rudolph.
AGAINST EMPIRE, an iconoclast offering of multi-directional movements .... avant-jazz, rock, dub, experimental, ambient, sub-bass and on and on .... a dream colonization, a bizarre image of paradise, an imagined quality of elsewhere, constructs of the imagination, essence of difference.
Nothing is True, Everything Is Permitted
AGAINST the EMPIRE of LIES
AGAINST the ANTI-MUSIC of MEDIOCRITY
AGAINST COMPLACENCY and COMPROMISE
AGAINST SHAMELESS and UNINFORMED PRIVILEGE
AGAINST INHERENT RACISM DIRECT or INDIRECT, KNOWN or UNKNOWN
AGAINST EMPIRE
credits
released April 10, 2020
Bill Laswell: bass, effects
Pharoah Sanders: saxophone
Peter Apfelbaum: saxophone, flute, keyboards
Herbie Hancock: electric piano
Jerry Marotta: drums
Chad Smith: drums
Hideo Yamaki: drums
Satoyasu Shomura: drums
Adam Rudolph: percussion
Created at Orange Music, West Orange, NJ
Engineering: James Dellatacoma
Mastered by Michael Fossenkemper at TurtleTone Studio, NYC
Photo by Toshiya Suzuki
Artwork by Yoko Yamabe @ Randesign
M.O.D. Reloaded: Dave Brunelle, Yoko Yamabe
license
The German artist's so-called "digital psychedelic journey" infuses sterling classical and jazz forms with trippy, tuneful synth melodies. Bandcamp New & Notable May 5, 2024
Nearly a decade after their last LP, the Chicago post-metal trio resurface with a punishing concept album set in an apocalyptic wasteland. Bandcamp New & Notable May 5, 2024
Australian singer-songwriter explores self-examination, loneliness, and post-pandemic malaise through delicate, empathetic folk pop. Bandcamp New & Notable May 5, 2024
UK label Def Pressé taps legendary New York hip-hop producer Blockhead for the fifth installment of their KPM Crate Diggers series. Bandcamp New & Notable May 5, 2024
On the follow-up to 2021's stellar "Afrique Victime," the Tuareg quartet translate political discontent into thrilling, transcendent rock. Bandcamp New & Notable May 5, 2024
Post-punk meets a very classic alt-rock sound on the new record from this Chicago group. RIYL The Breeders, Dinosaur Jr, and Yo La Tengo. Bandcamp New & Notable May 4, 2024