Review of Adjágas's CD "s/t"

Adjágas: s/t

An exciting mix of European promise. There should be more of this available in the shops. Creating polyrhythmic grooves, to fantastic effect every up and coming musician should study the scrupulousness in this tribal chant. The basis of the music, the pulse, the heartbeat, the elements are neatly put together. Instruments include what sounds like congas, various percussion instruments, mandolins, ukuleles, banjos, brass horns as well as the western traditions of drum kits and pianos. The lead vocal portrays yearning while giving the impressions of ancient humanistic ritual. There are moments of contemplation within the songs that stretch long through the E.P.

The mood rarely changes, but persists in knocking on the door of your compassion and understanding of the world and its abundance of culture. Adjagas do well to break down the boundaries. Once you give it time to sink in, you begin to understand the foreign lyrics, moods and ideas. Contrary to this, Adjagas have borrowed mainstream arrangements. There is a good blend of feminine and masculine progressions not only with the vocals but in musical key, some minor and some major. What it lacks in tempo it makes up for in colourful melody and rhythm. But then, high tempo is not what this is about.

Culture is in abundance here, Adjagas, coming from the Sami word for a mental state between waking and sleeping, portrays music for meditation. But it's so much more. Describing itself through sound rather than word attaches more to the subconscious levels. Uniquely spiritual, this collection of songs is composed by a young Sami duo from the north of Scandinavia, check it out.

• www.myspace.com/adjagas

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