Karl Hector & The Malcouns - Unstraight Ahead (2014)

Its been some years since the first Karl Hector release, and its known now that Mr. Hector is indeed the German producer and guitarist JJ Whitefield, ne Jan Weissenfeldt. Whitefield is the visionary behind the Poets of Rhythm and the Whitefield Brothers, the ensembles whose rough analog sound and return to the funk archetypes of the late 60s to early 70s paved the way for labels like Daptone, Truth & Soul, Timmion. Unstraight Ahead finds the band exploring territories even outside of the expansive scope of 2008s Sahara Swing. On this album, the West African sounds of Ghana and Mali meet the East African sounds of Mulatu Astatkes Ethiopian jazz and are tied together with the groove heavy experimentalism of The Malcouns 70s Krautrock godfathers: Can, of course, but also more obscure and equally adventurous groups like Agitation Free, Ibliss and Tomorrows Gift. It's an album out of time, one that couldnt have been made in the era its aural aesthetics reference, as its scope is so broad. But its an album focused by funk and an ambition to expand funks reaches. The Malcouns including Poets of Rhythm songwriter and vocalist Bo Baral - created their own instruments to fashion an album that stands alongside the great albums of its progenitors but charges Unstraight Ahead into a curious musical future.

TRACKLIST
01. Introduction (1:01)
02. Push Na Ya (2:32)
03. El Gusto (2:50)
04. Transition S (1:29)
05. Karadeniz (3:01)
06. The Spirit of Gine (3:39)
07. Transition T (1:35)
08. Girmas Lament (2:54)
09. Sharpville Massacre (2:21)
10. Samai Thaqil (6:35)
11. Nibunga (3:01)
12. Ombele (Makossa) (4:44)
13. Mhammad (Slow) (2:32)
14. Transition A (1:19)
15. Whos Fooling Who (2:43)
16. Transition C (0:36)
17. Hymnin 5 (1:37)
18. Bring It On Down (2:44)
19. Mission Control (3:06)
20. Kaifa (Part 1 And 2) (6:08)