Review: BABON - Tropical Desert (Wonderwheel Recordings)

Indonesian instrumental jazz outfit BABON's album is fantastic atmospheric and cinematic instrumental that going to be a big, there's life in that 'Tropical Desert'!

To follow up previous singles, 'Wolter Waltz’ is "BABON's interpretation and tribute to one of Indonesia’s revolutionary heroes, Wolter Monginsidi. While many in Jakarta may recognize his name BABON peels back the layers of familiarity and reveals a more human and complex narrative. The waltz—a dance marked by elegance and tension - mirrors the struggle, luck, and resilience required to resist oppression and fight for independence. As the music builds in intensity, the track ends with three gunshots, symbolizing the tragic end of his life and the ultimate sacrifice he made for freedom".  

Now that's cinematic and somewhat unexpected after their single 'Deset Rose' / 'TNT' on Batov Records last year (see review HERE) but as the press says, they're inspired by "legendary Spaghetti Western composers like Piero Umiliani and Henry Mancini, Latin grooves reminiscent of Trio Los Panchos, Afro-funk, Middle Eastern influences from Elias Rahbani, and the soul-funk vibrations of Menahan Street Band."

The rest of this 10 track debut albumis just as good as the three singles.  The album starts like an upbeat desert 'Openness Trio' (by Nate Mercereau, Josh Johnson & Carlos Niño -see review HERE) with 'Bubuka' before getting into their-Batov-style with the previous single, 'Cacti Traveller'.

'Heat', 'Big Cat, Small Jungle' and 'Sawduzt' are brilliant as the band add elements of The Doors organ sound, 60s surf and Pulp Fiction OST; Oh! why not Herb Alpert too!  Get you're Marlboro's out for 'Tabacco Country' and ya 60s dancin' shoes on for 'The Chase' a la Randal & Hopkirk vs. The Prisoner. 

There's nine instrument tracks plus 'Pesan dari Gurun' that features Frau, a "well known voice on the Indonesian indie-folk scene" which is a perfect role in this setting, you could say, it's very much in the band's dramatic Wheel House (Ed. shouldn't that be, 'Wonderwheel House'?)

The album ends on the other single, 'Mirage' as a Morricone meets guitar twang which, at 6 mins kind of encapsulates the album's character, as at the same time, I'm thinking at some stage, this LP is going to be supptorting 'Album of the Year' stickers on it as it's pushes world-folk-jazz-funk-psych in all departments.

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BUY LINK : https://ffm.to/tropical-desert.HGW

Artist: BABON

Title: Tropical Desert

Release date: 26th September, 2022

Label : Wonderwheel Recordings

Catalog Number : WONDERLP72

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Chancha Via Circuito - La Estrella (Wonderwheel Recordings)

If the nearest you've got to the Argentine world/electronica/dance scene is the Gotan Project/Astor Piazzolla Remixed, here's you're chance to explore further and deeper with Chancha Via Circuito (aka Pedro Canale) with the release his fifth full length: 'La Estrella' on Wonderwheel Recordings.

Chancha Via Circuito has made a name for himself as the originator of electronic South American folk meets Cumbia dance and it's really seductive; like an Argentina Tango that's full of expression and warmth.

The eleven tracks are split between instrumentals and vocals tracks featuring Fémina ('Cometa'), Lido Pimienta ('Amor en silencio' that's more summer folk-pop with vibes), Meridian Brothers ('El pavo real') as well as Las Añez ('Ese peso'), Manu Ranks ('Ouh Lord ouh Dios') and María José Montijo.

'Comenta' was released as a single and I said then that it's an "Erotic garden of eathly delighs on a mountain temple" but 'El pavo real' even tops that as it's a proper slow dance in Cumbia-space folk-dub with a touch of vibe and wobble; with the beautiful vocals - who are the  Meridian Brothers? 'Ese peso' is nearly as good and both tracks would be great future singles.

I wouldn't like to give you this impression that this album is non-mainstream, like Manu Ranks's track as a downtempo reggaeton folk-stylee in a damp basement [Ed: that's mainstream?] and the almost Baile jazz-funk of  'El arbol y el hacha' featuring Moninja.

All this instrumentals shine, like opening track 'Dandeleon' (one for WUTMK), the walk in the rainforest 'Vedanta' and the closing track, 'Monolina' that shuffles and glides in dark alleyways. 

Chancha Via Circuito has come a long way since he was included on Daniel Haaksman's Funk Mundial compilation in 2009 with MC Pretinho 'Buçetao' [history update: I'm pretty sure I was at the UK launch of that album when Daniel DJ'd at Camden Stables with Dom 'Wah Wah 45s' Servini!] and even then, he was a bit off the normal 'Funk Mundial' template so this album is futher confirmation that he's forging his own musical path.

This is a great album that's varied and hypnotic all at the same time and it's about time the 'world' scene caught up with him. 

Artist: Chancha Via Circuito 

Title: La Estrella

Release date: 11th November, 2022

Label : Wonderwheel Recordings

Catalog Number : LP / Digital / Bandcamp