On-U Sound reissue 4 seminal albums by the mighty African Head Charge today

0

On-U Sound have reissued, for the first time in 30 years, African Head Charge’s My Life In A Hole In The Ground + Environmental Studies + Drastic Season + Off The Beaten Track, today, the 22nd of January 2016. To call them ahead of their time seems somehow lazy, as they’re still ahead of their time. It’s remarkable inspiring music and we urge you to explore it.

To celebrate On-U Sound have also compiled an AHC-themed mixtape. This is a two hour night flight through the strange and wonderful world of African Head Charge, putting their early music in a wider context of influences, collaborators and intersecting sounds. Featuring Count Ossie, Brian Eno & David Byrne, Psychic TV, Don Cherry, Jah Wobble, Sun Ra, Pere Ubu, Tortoise and more.

Check it out here.

Here’s some more information from the label about each of these remarkable albums

“My Life In A Hole In The Ground is their debut album from 1981 that plays on both the title and concept of David Byrne and Brian Eno’s My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. Built upon sparse backing tracks constructed by Adrian Sherwood, the producer invited Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah (who had studied under Count Ossie in the rasta drumming camp at Wareika Hill in Jamaica) to lay down hand percussion patterns and breaks on top, augmented by stereo-strafed effects and the occasional burst of Sun Ra-style horns. The result is a unique mixture of traditional African rhythms, dub and free jazz.

Environmental Studies is their second album from 1982 that saw them working manipulated and vari-speeded 1/4 inch tape loops that were re-recorded back to the multi-track, soaked in reverb and delay, and then applied to the performances of the musicians, not to mention extensive use of found sounds and field recordings, hence the title. It features contributions from Bruce Smith (The Pop Group), Style Scott (Roots Radics) and Deadly Headley (The Wailers). Re-cut at dubplates & mastering in Berlin for maximum bass pressure. Includes printed inner with sleevenotes by Steve Barker (On The Wire), and download card for full album.

Drastic Season is their third album from 1983. Described by producer Adrian Sherwood as “experiments in active frequencies, out of time noises, rhythms within rhythms, and endless tape edits”. It possesses loose echoes of traditional African percussion music, field recordings and roots reggae.

Originally released in 1986, Off The Beaten Track forges a new middle ground between dub and electronic music. Programmed chants and unexpected sounds (barking dogs, breaking glass, gypsy violin loops) are dropped onto a fluid rhythmic bed. A landmark recording in the integration of sampling technology and live instrumentation.

More details here.

Share.

About Author

Bob is the features editor of Cyclic Defrost. He is also evil. You should not trust the opinions of evil people.

Leave A Reply