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July 27, 2005
This basically a put-you-on Review of an ill ass band straight out of 'Mzansi'(South Africa). Step out of your element even if its just for minute, Ignore your musical prejudices ..this is an album that should be picked up by all music lovers. The collective features
Tumi..The Emcee/Poet
Tiago ..Guitar
Kyla..Violin
Dave..Bass
Paulo..Percussion/Drums ..together they are Tumi and the Volume.
Album name: At the Bassline. The album was recorded live at Bassline( a legendary club in Johannesburg).One of the reviews I read on the bands official site,is so apt I feel the need to use it again
"Every now and again an album creeps up and sinks its teeth into your aural cavity so successfully that it makes you a fan from merely a single spin", writes Jason Curtis.Introspective wordsmith known to us as Tumi sets off the album in a spoken word piece type of track 'Yvonne' when he starts out you think its a monologue about him describing the streets he is walking on then..Boom!!dude launches into Mack daddy mode aka Tongoza-the-ladies-out-of-their-shoes..
Sister's aura's sweet/ Initial shock left my heart with a faltered beat/ See, I could live off yours if my heart stopped for weeks/..../
Then like the initial boom described above the next verse begins
Hello, can I talk to that pumpkin Yvonne??/ She got raped this afternoon, she can't come to the phone/ Shock!!
He launches into the Yvonne character mode where he transports us to her thoughts just before he met her and the moments that follow then ends the verse sadly speaking on Yvonne's ordeal. You can tell by the initial response that the crowd was caught off guard before the proceeded to clap and applaud
'My Posters' one of my favs in the album showcases the jazzy sounds of 'The Volume'... good googly moogly!!!(the hugleys did not copyright that did they?) the band kills it in this set , I got the sense that tumi was basically spitting about people he found inspirational to him...On 'the story behind paint' an incredibly short track(1:40) track about those that passed ..a slow song that leaves wanting more, Dave Bergman is almost like the centerpiece of this track and with the chords acting like the backdrop of the track you get to see just how good the group is. On 'Never Deny You'... the raspy voiced emcee spits
whats no God in this? God against/ to many of my own go in chains/ and this what you call a game/ a million children forced to shame/street walking across the pave/ when the beats bump I'm forced to rage/and this what you call a game?/muthafuck Babylon your laws are lame/my pops done tossed flame/ for me to brighten every open plane/and I, torch the page in such way back to basic assault you fame/
in true MC ability tumi exhorts crowd in the 'hook' to join him in chants. Kyla the violinist keeps weaving in and out of the track in such subliminal fashion you cannot just help vibe to the track with eyes closed as you soak in the lyrics.
76 Arguably the best track in this album, takes back in time as Tumi Piccaso's this track about one of the worst incidences ... in apartheid South Africa that happened in June 16 1976 . Quoting lyrics will not do justice to this track, you have to hear this track to understand how he succeeds in painting the sadness of the situation with the help of vocalist 'Pebbles', one of the few features in the album. This is a dope track. The rest of the album is taken up by jazzy melodies...in 'Four' Sax player Marcus Wyatt lights up the house with his excellent play and we hear tumi the 'rhyming author' switch his flow completely. In this fast paced offering.... damn the brother is talented...Kyla joins in this as she ratchets up her speed up too. 'Welcome' is another nice track but the segue into the next track 'Chameleon' a track originally done by Herbie Hancock is also dope no lyrics for this track such a tune does not need it.
Something about saving the best for last defines the final track ' People of the Light ' Pebbles lends her smooth soothing vocals in this joint which features a slow build up just before tumi grabs the mic... aided by a kick ass bassline and the plucked chords of Tiago ...by the time you get the hook you already in love with this song but the electicric guitar and the accompanying violinist blows it out of the water not to mention the hook is easily in class of its own..what with lines like this
It don't take a rocket scientist to get to the moon/ Every man and women got their own ten-minute zoom/ People of the light, generate a glow in the room/ I hear the wind whispering, I'll be coming home soon/...
this hands down is one of the best if not the best track I have heard all year....
Overall this is a Great album I doubt it that anyone who bought it is using it as a coaster somewhere..a solidly woven offering with reflective conscious lyrics, diverse "'jazzy" sounds and occasional anti-diva'ish vocals this album will FAIL to disappoint you. So put down that mass marketed MTV unplugged cd for a minute and plug yourself in to the sounds of ' Tumi and the Volume'...At The Bassline.
For more info... District Six Music to see video, Video, for label information Ready Rolled Records...attached is the track for 'People of the light'
People Of The Light(mp3)
8 Comments:
hey i like the new look
Sun Jul 31, 12:48:00 AM
'people of the light' is sickk!!lovve the guitar! im definitely going to try find this cd..thanks for dropping the knowledge!
Mon Aug 01, 10:58:00 PM
@nick thagyo and appreciate the love
@luna you need this CD in your life cop it if you can some real nice stuff on there..visit one of the links on there I think one them is a company in Canada so hopefully shiping is not that bad
Wed Aug 03, 10:42:00 PM
and what happens if ur in europe and want a copy?
Thu Aug 04, 05:51:00 AM
@kipepeo. how rude of me...LOL visit this site its in UK
http://www.sternsmusic.com. You should be able to find some copies available
Fri Aug 05, 10:49:00 AM
rwathia thanks for dropping by
appreciate the love...glad you feeling tumi's music you will not be dissapointed. this site carries the album
http://www.districtsixmusic.com/merchandise.php
Fri Aug 05, 12:11:00 PM
yes how rude!! nah, just kidding. thank you for that! and for the regular updates on the music scene!
Mon Aug 08, 04:38:00 AM
OH oooh ooooooh Yeah! That's definitely the spot! MHMM Like the music...A LOT!!!
Fri Aug 19, 12:21:00 PM
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