13 Degrees of Reality

Description

Released in 2008, The Heliocentrics' very first album, "Out There," was dazzling. It featured the earthy funk of James Brown, the sublime asymmetry of Sun Ra, the cinematic music of Ennio Morricone, the orchestral fusion of David Axelrod, the 'pop' musique concrète of Pierre Henry, and the Krautrock of Can. This album highlighted a new psychedelia that could only come from accomplished and obsessive musicians – half-crazed, half-erudite. Drummer Malcolm Catto and bassist Jake Ferguson are the creators and producers of this variable-geometry London collective, organized around a core group of atypical musicians: guitarist Ade Owusu, percussionist and flutist Jack Yglesias, and pianist Ollie Parfitt. Back on Now-Again, The Heliocentrics continue their experiments with "13 Degrees Of Reality," enriched with Caribbean, African, and Eastern influences. The Latin electro of 'Descarga Electronica' rubs shoulders with the tense string rhythms of 'Collateral Damage' or the fluctuating swing of 'Wrecking Ball.' Over the years, the band has earned the respect and admiration of artists, musicians, and producers such as Madlib (with whom Malcolm Catto collaborated on Yesterdays New Quintet), DJ Shadow (whom the band accompanied), and Quantic, not to mention their collaboration [in the studio and on stage] with the master of Ethio-jazz Mulatu Astatke on the album "Inspiration Information 3" (2009).