Sacred Rhythm US レコード& CD

Review: Joe Claussell's Sacred Rhythm Music is back to present new music under his alias The Bayara Citizens. Elektrik Afrika is his second full length of the project, where he pursues yet more of his idiosyncratic style of 'spiritual life music'. By fusing acoustic and electronic together as one, the project represents evolution - producing its own genetics and speaking an individual dialect of rhythm and sound. Traces can be heard in "Zainabu" (Spirit Dancer) which fuses electronic harmonizing on the skins of traditional folkloric rhythms, or the soul power of "Mofo Congoietric" (Joaquin's Sacred Rhythm version), through to the tunnelling and hypnotic power of "Bambara" (The Tribes Of Distortion dub) and the truly life-affirming "Diamonds" (It's Time To Let Our People Go).

Review: The Bayara Citizens dropped the original 'Ju/Ru Music' 7" on Joe Clausell's Sacred Rhythm label back in 2006. It has become a rather pricey little 45 prm that now gets reissued as two different, dubbed out Afro rhythms with swirling guitar licks. The Afrikan Art opener on the a-side is full of sunshine and Latin vibes thanks to the superbly plucked strings and shuffling groves, while the flip is the Afrikan dub Drum Drums version - darker, more percussive more moody. Both sides bring something different to any dub set.

Review: Tribal, physical, psychedelic: Joe Claussell's Bolla project is one of his finest creative accomplishments for many fans, and his album Afrikan Basement: Makussa is the gift that keeps on giving. Having previously leaked limited 12"s, Joe's label Sacred Rhythm does it again with another super-limited, one-sided press. Hooky, insistent and far-out for the full 10 minutes, this is shaman material right here. Do not sleep.

Review: Bolla's Afrikan Basement debuted with a warm welcome in 2008 as a limited 7" and is one of the many essential projects Joe Clasusell has been involved with over the years. Now it gets revisited on this tasty 7". The a-side is a special edit of "Makkusa", a steamy, spiritual, deeply layered and emotional house track that is lead by a standout sax line. Joaquin's Sacred Rhythm dub is just that on the flip-side, a punchy rework with groaning vocals and a tribal feel, marching drums and plenty of the steam and sweat that makes his music so unique and powerful.

Review: Joaquin 'Joe' Claussell's latest full-length excursion is, in typical style, a little different from your average artistic full-length. Instead of showcasing the spiritual house maestro's completed productions, it instead offers glimpses of familiar favourites, B-sides and deep album cuts in various stages of completion. That may not sound appealing on paper, but it genuinely is. For starters, Clausell is a fine musician, and many of the showcased "manifestations" are effectively early, stripped-back takes laden with a mixture of fluid and jazzy piano solos, soulful vocals, spacey synthesizer chords and acoustic guitars. Some cuts are inspired ambient soundscapes, while others are breezier, lighter dancefloor numbers underpinned by a variety of African and Latin inspired deep house rhythms.

Review: Another new week means another selection from Joe Claussell's impossibly steamy and intense reworks. The super limited Manifestations: Long Versions EP 2 collects another three such tunes on one coloured vinyl. First is a dreamy and sun kissed tune from Mental Remedy that is all breathy vocals and noodling solos, then The Bayara Citizens offer a high speed salsa dance that transports you to the south of the Med and beyond. Another one from Mental Remedy cloys out with more afro rhythms and organic, wooden percussive sounds.

Review: On this surprise 7" edition of Joaquin 'Joe' Claussell's unofficial Edits & Overdubs series of releases, the long-serving New York producer turns his attention to Exuma's 'The Obeah Man', a heavily percussive, Afro-fired slab of rhythm and blues/folk-rock fusion that was once an anthem at David Mancuso's Loft parties. Claussell's 'Part One' rework somehow seems even more urgent, percussive and life-affirming than Exuma's original version, and the 'Part 2' version - an unashamedly sweaty, drum-heavy interpretation - most certainly is. Possibly best of all - for plays in house sets, at least - is the 'Obeah Man Rhythm' version, which is a loopy, percussive beast. You may need to go for a little lie down after playing it - we did!

Review: Two years ago, Joaquin "Joe" Clausell donned his occasional Mental Remedy alias and offered up "A Journey To Noi", a decidedly spiritual album that mixed Japanese instrumentation with his usual ambient and deep house sounds. On this 12", Clausell offers up some heady new interpretations that - like much of his work over the last decade - are built around the percussive power of African rhythms. The opening "Sacred Rhythm Version" of "It All Began In The East" is particularly potent, with Clausell cloaking a warm, organic and percussive Afro-house beat in distinctive Japanese Koto melodies and jazzy piano flourishes. We'd also recommend the formidably heavy, drum-laden rework of "Dance For Gratitude", whose Latin American bassline and simmering synth-strings are almost as addictive as the weighty groove they sit upon.

Review: Joaquin 'Joe' Clausell's latest round of spiritual and percussive dancefloor workouts were apparently "randomly selected" from the vaults of DJ tools and work-in-progress tracks tucked away under the floorboards at Sacred Rhythm HQ. Naturally there's nothing genuinely "half-finished" here, just a quartet of cuts worthy of your attention. He begins with "Elegua", a West African style workout that boasts call-and-response group vocals and a loose, languid tribal rhythm track, before moving towards heavy Afro-house territory via the deep, dark analogue bass, machine beats and densely layered percussion of "Makussa PT Three". Over on side B, "Di Mayo" layers sharp, spacey synths and lashings of special effects to a dubbed-out Afro-house rhythm, while the gloriously colourful "Afrofunkjazz" lives up to its title.

Review: If you're wondering what you'll find within the grooves of this vinyl double-pack from Joaquin "Joe" Claussell's Sacred Rhythm label, a cursory glance at the title should fill you in. As it states, what's on offer here is extended versions of some of the most popular unofficial "edits and overdubs" reworks. Of particular interest is his utterly insane 10-minute rub of Czeslaw Niemen's "Zi Listu Do M", a quirky chunk of experimental jazz that Claussell has magically re-imagined as a wonky, soft touch house track. There's plenty to set the pulse racing elsewhere, too, including a Balearic disco style take on Fleetwood Mac, a thumping revision of GB Experience's "Disco Extravaganza" and a wonderfully sweaty and percussive revision of The Impossible Dreamers' exotic "Life On Earth".

Review: Joaquin "Joe" Clausell has been using the Bolla alias to deliver authentic blends of indigenous African music and winding deep house since 2005, though it was only earlier this year that he released the project's debut album. This 12" boasts extended, club-friendly versions of tracks from that full-length, the impressive Makussa. There's much to enjoy, from the toughened-up Afro-disco revivalism of "Disco Afri Co Co (Extended Version)", and intense, deep space drum workout "A Means of Communication (Freaky Dub)", to the trumpet-laden Afro-house niceness of "Wandolo Feat Bonga (Freaky Dub Extended)". There's also a fine trip into downtempo pastures in the shape of "Ninaitwa (Called By The Drum)".

Review: The undisputed master of spiritual house music Joaquin 'Joe' Claussell presents Cosmicdelic Afrika: a collection of demos that the New York City based visionary is currently working on in the studio. The idea for the compilation was inspired by the concept of his event Share: the upcoming Share Afrika will see Claussell digging through his archives and bringing out compositions exploring Afrika, African Diaspora, dub and more. Beginning with the deeply magical and meditative vibe of "African Drug" (Joaquin's Drugged Out Sketch mix) by Bob Holroyd, the soulful and uplifting deepness of "Emarofo Tech" (Joaquin's Demo Sketch Mix) by Mampo or Cosmic Ritual's "Abraxas" (Joaquin demo Sketch mix) which is classic Claussell - reminiscent of work on his seminal Language album from the turn of the millennium.

Review: Whereas the first volume in Joaquin "Joe" Claussell's "Cosmicdelic Africa" series focused on sneaky re-edits by the Sacred Rhythm founder, this second instalment focuses on original productions "for the dancefloor and the head". In other words, Clausell has offered up DJ-friendly extended versions of some of his most cosmic, Afro-centric creations. There's much to enjoy throughout, from the psychedelic rock guitar solos, restless bass, layered Latin house rhythms and rainforest sounds of Cosmic Ritual's "Abraxas (Demo Sketch Mix)", to the piano sporting cosmic house positivity of Mampo's "Emarofo Tech (Extended Sketch Mix)", via the spaced-out electronics, hallucinatory synth lines and sparse drums of intoxicating downtempo workout "Mundo De Agua (Psyxchdelic Transfusion Mix)".

Review: Paul David Gillman's Colours of the Earth is an album made up of compositions the producer has made over the course of the last decade. Says the artist "I often find myself sitting in the garden just tuning in to whatever nature offers; the sound of the trees as the branches sway back and forth, like a build-up to a bridge of a song or effects." All of that is captured in these beautiful ambient pieces. They are more than just background music as a result - they are living, breathing sonic documents that unfold like miniature movies and with just as much emotion. Overall, it makes for a real journey into organic rhythms and sacred sounds.

Review: Joe Claussell's Sacred Rhythm label is a vessel for him to explore the deep rooted culture behind his most prominent output in the house world. Travelling far and wide into African musical tradition, Claussell and select like-minded souls often present their most profound work through this outlet, and so it goes on this enchanting collection of rhythm studies, folk spirituals and works in progress. It's a compelling insight into the working practices of a musical master, a meaningful journey into the origins of so much modern music, and an inventive new expression all in one, scattered out like a sketchbook we're privileged to take a peep at.