Reviews 359: Imaginária 001
Waves of saxophonic warmth and layers of orchestral ambiance caressing slow and low downbeat zone outs; falsetto serenades, throat singing spells, and colorful scat cascades darting and dashing through woven tapestries of fourth world mysticism, exotic kosmische, and rainforest jazz fusion; and solar tribal chants bookending explosions of Amazonian drumline ecstasy–this is the world of Imaginária 001, a new 12” of re-edits from the mysterious Imaginária crew. Supposedly based in Portugal…though who can say for sure…this group of balearic minded selectors have assembled an adventurous set of sonic oddities, one intended as a “hypothetical sound trip between skyscrapers, wild places, and deep imaginary oceans.” As well, Imaginária 001 is presented in the spirit of sharing and open-minded exchange, with those behind the release reaching into their vast archives to make accessible legendary works that have become prohibitively expensive and, better still, to shine a light on hidden treasures never before been released on vinyl (though you might have to work hard to discover the source, as many of these selections definitively outmaneuver the algorithm).
Imaginária - Imaginária 001 (Imaginária, 2020)
Melancholic arps descend through oceanic darkness in “State of Mind #3” as hand drums and tapped cymbals fade in from the void. Choirs of the abyss carry subtle shades of sax as the beat takes shape, with slow motion bass notes pounding amidst downtempo drum perfection built from reverb-soaked cymbals, richocheting rimshots, equatorial hand drums, and shaken tambourines. After an extended passage of downbeat drum atmospherica, the choirs and saxophone return…as if mermaid voices and a reed-generated noir jazz purr are spreading ever outwards through an endless sea of ether while synths glimmer like harps made of gemstone. At some point the melodies pull away again, leaving sub-earthen basslines to thump above a slow and low balearic beatscape that is increasingly accented by streaks of FM-synthesis…like alien liquids glowing in strange hues as they repeatedly freeze in place. Then, towards the end, angelic ocean voices resume their new age berceuse as the saxophone leads one last sunset climax before it all descends into silence. Next comes “Vento Caldo,” where waves and wind sit over a peaceful fusion jam, with tight cymbals keeping time, acoustic guitars jangling, bass synths squelching like frogs, and pianos raining down clustered chords and fantasy runs. The mix reduces to a percussive pulse as falsetto vocals counter a seaside maelstrom with cooing lullabies and eventually, the intensity breaks and dreamscape arps begin raining over In a Silent Way-style jazz fusion drum whispers. After an instrumental passage, the vocals resume their saccharine serenade while morphing through subtle psychedelic fx clouds and all around, washes of equatorial synthesis are suffused by sparkling bubble clouds. At some point, the track breaks down into stuttering drum physicality and amorphous angel synthesis while the singer works through sleepy-eyed lyricisms that eventually fade to mist. And as we return to a peaceful balearic stroll, alien laser blasts oscillate, understated rhythmic accents move in counterpoint, vocals filter into a fever dream hallucination, and psychosonic textures of aqueous origin swim around increasingly abstracted piano flourishes.
“Tres Reyes en Toldeo” opens in the jungle with a stream rushing in the distance and birds of paradise conversing overhead. Shakers strike and throat-sung chants flow around a tribal tom ritual, tapped hi-hats open up and hiss fire, and enchanting fourth world melodies swirl in the distance…as if wood flutes from various cultures have been smeared into a meditative breath of rainforest synthesis. Ethereal arps circulate like spiral galaxies, bells and shakers ring chaotically before locking in, and all around, jazz scats and expressionistic vocal rhythms push towards hyperventilation. Layers of dream synthesis billow in and cover the mix with tropical vapor clouds before pulling away unexpectedly, leaving behind sections of vocal psychedelia and tribal drum hypnotism, wherein shamans chant and ritualized polyrhythms ebb and flow in complexity while birds sing softly through the dense forest growth. “Brazilian Trip” closes the show with looping bells and joyous claps while a group of singers lets loose their soulful paean to the Brazilian sunrise. Drums pound across the spectrum, with crazed flams and mutant strokes slowly resolving into a ecstatic dance, and as hand percussions, timbales, and tom toms flail wildly, the background explodes with hypnotic patterns of mystical metal. Ecstatically blown whistles signal sudden transitions, with the track sometimes working into a militant call and response between deep pounding drums and martial shouts while at other times, it devolves towards manic hand drum soloing and bass drum thunderstorming. There’s even a moment where everything starts reversing and whooshing backwards in time…the sonic textures blasting through clouds of reverb before resuming the explosive panorama of tribal booty beats. Towards the end, as whistles signal another dramatic shift, it all breaks down into an molecular slop of rimshots, cymbal bells, and shimmering energetics. Somehow, almost effortlessly, the chanted vocal euphorias then re-emerge to offer a brief respite from the all out onslaught of Afro-Brazilian drum intensity. But eventually, the stormfronts of Amazonian rhythm return, leading to one last stretch of fire dance mesmerism.
(images from my personal copy)
andulkaphoto
prguitarman
titsay
stormborns
jbbartram-illu
jacobvanloon
blakekathryn