Black Merlin - Kosua
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On hearing the LP, the outcome is what we'd hoped for - the far-out mysticism and natural beauty of the Kosuan recordings are implemented in a dream-like wash of airy, vast sound pieces, kept fairly true to their source, capturing voices, animals, weather and surroundings, and placed in amongst the technoid dread, dreamscape pads and industrial rhythm-charge that Black Merlin has impressed with on material for the likes of Berceuse Heroique, Jealous God, Mannequin etc.
It's a real journey through ethereal moods, and captures the adventure that this trip must have been, whilst combining it with an imaginary world that takes place in our minds when we visualise, or shall we say 'envision the collision of these very different sound worlds' that this Kosuan Tribe and Black Merlin inhabit...
There's also a deeper feeling of sadness and confusion to be found in there... Perhaps only from our side, or perhaps intentional?
Maybe it's the image of imminent death of ancient cultures, as our most sacred natural habitats are destroyed by the likes of Bolsonaro, Monsanto... Us, as consumers.... the list can continue for a long time.
Here's an extra bit of information - check it:
“Back in 2015 George Thompson AKA Black Merlin started a deep love affair with the remote island of Papua New Guinea. After his first album ‘Hipnotik Tradisi’, released on Island Of The Gods; George was intrigued to find a place drenched in culture and untouched by the western world.
In 2016 George planned his first solo expedition, venturing out to meet the Kosua Tribe. Over the course of the next two years George would record the sounds of the Kosua people. From their daily lives, ancient dance customs and wildlife. During one of these trips he spent 14 days alone in the jungle, getting in and out of the Mount Bosavi crater and further 3 days inside recording and filming his experience. These recordings and experiences formed the basis of his second album, Kosua."
The kind of collage of realism and fantasy that can only be construed with this kind of meeting of sound & experience, this album is a very strong sound artefact, and a potent, equally beautiful and fearsome reminder of the sacred bubbles that this world still holds, just about.
2 x 12" on Island Of The Gods, served in killer printed sleeve.
TRACKLIST:
1. Self Heat
2. Feeling Colour
3. Seane Falls Womens Kulumba
4. New Guinea
5. Cloud
6. Standing At The Summit Of Bosavi
7. Fogomay'iu Village
8. Kundu
9. Stalking The Canopy
10. Talisu
11. Sibi
12. First Light
13. Chief Sigalo Balo Dance
14. Madmen, Missionaries, Prospectors And Weirdos
15. Big Haus
Self Heat
Cloud
Kundu
Madmen, Missionaries, Prospectors & Weirdos