According to the promo material accompanying Teleseen’ Fear of the Forest, Indie tastemakers Pitchfork referred to the talented multi-instrumentalist and producer Gabriel Cyr as “An electronic MC Esher’. The cover art of this album hints otherwise, at a pointillist aesthetic, closer to that of Seurat than to Stockhausen.
From the deep bass and keys that are reminiscent of Alice Coltrane’ cascading harp on the opening track Prophecy is Fulfilment in the Mouth of the Land, the astute listener can intimate how impeccably this album is structured to work as a listening experience. This exactitude stands out in the over-saturated and indolent red, gold an’ green an’ ting of the modern “dub’ Diaspora. This is music that is larger than the sum of its (admittedly impressive) parts.
Coming correct with a balance between instrumentals and guest vocalists, Fear of the Forest, showcases the detuned falsetto croon of Jah Sight over a classic Rhythm & Sound style echo chamber pulse, complete with the handclaps of a thousand stoned steppers on Black Monday. Soul singer Abena Koomson warbles R & B style on Crown, but excels on Factions, as her vocals are stretched, compressed and teased apart, yet always maintaining an exquisitely yearning humanity. Top that off with the Shackleton-meets-The-Aggrovators jamming on the international space station with Cluster and you’ve got the standout track of the album.
Fellow Brooklyn residents Zozo Afro Beat Orchestra show up uninvited for an impromptu jerk-chicken and goat curry bashment session on The Echo Will Triumph Over the Voice. I’ll leave it up to Billy Woods’ lopsided cadence and dreamlike sequences, which remind me of the mighty Cannibal Ox, to bookend this review. “Small Axe, Big Show†he proclaims on the final track, White Worst. Indeed, I concur.
Oliver Laing
