New album: Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra - Towards Other Worlds

Press release

Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra are back with their second album ‘Towards Other Worlds’. The UK based 9 piece have built on the success of their debut album, described by BBC Radio 2’s Jamie Cullum as one of his ‘sounds and albums of 2010’. Afrobeat’s inimitable rhythm and language is evident and the band also owes part of their sound to the space jazz pioneers of the 70s and the free jazz trailblazers of the 60s.

The band emerged from the fertile Leeds music scene that has produced some of the most exciting music in the UK including Submotion Orchestra, Corinne Bailey Rae, kidkanevil, Andreya Triana and The New Mastersounds. Born out of late-night jam sessions at legendary jazz club Sela Bar, a group of musicians were naturally drawn together, guided by band-leader (and lead-writer) Pete Williams. Taking the rhythms of Fela and adding the improvisation of Sun-Ra and the funk of James Brown the band were soon forging their own sound.

Towards Other Worlds explores this diverse blueprint, taking in driving afro-funk, spiritual jazz, and Mulatu-esque Ethio-jazz. Built around a quote of the Sun-Ra film ‘Space Is The Place’ the album is split into two halves – the first represents Earth and it’s ‘sounds of guns, anger, frustration’ whilst the second is couched in the cosmos, where ‘the vibrations are different’, leading to a more progressive, peaceful sound.

Tracklist

1.   Old ground 
2.   Blood in the water 
3.   March of the idiots 
4.   Turncoat 
5.   Ministers of aggression 
6.   Towards other worlds 
7.   Future ancestors
8.   New frontiers

Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra - Crosstown Traffic E.P.

The Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra formed in late 2007 when members of the Kidkanevil live show and First Word stalwarts Homecut began a series of late night afrobeat sessions at Leeds’s Sela Bar. It was out of these jam sessions that The Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra was born, combining their love of afrobeat with their appreciation of the space jazz pioneers of the 70’s and the free jazz trailblazers of the 60’s, coupled with a hefty nod towards James Brown. Individually they have been lucky enough to Perform with the likes of Yarah Bravo, Gilad Atzmon, Jehst, The New Mastersounds, The Haggis horns, Kidkanevil, Homecut, Kissey Asplund and Ty, to name a few. They are currently in the studio recording their debut album, which should see the light of day later in the year… It's worth noting that the above tunes are live tracks and demos only. Proper studio tracks'll follow in due time...

... from their myspace page!

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First Word are proud to present the Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra, the latest product of the same Northern music scene that produced the likes of The Haggis Horns and The New Mastersounds.The Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra formed in late 2007 when members of the kidkanevil live show and First Word stalwarts Homecut began a series of late night afrobeat sessions at Leeds' Sela Bar. It was out of these jam sessions that the 8 piece Arkestra was born, combining their love of afrobeat with their appreciation of the space jazz pioneers of the 70's and the free jazz trailblazers of the 60's, coupled with a hefty nod towards James Brown.Lead track 'Crosstown Traffic' needs no introduction a firing cover of the Hendrix classic, this is instant dancefloor dynamite. Already getting plays on Craig Charles Funk & Soul show, this is set to be a must-have record for any DJ in the funk / afro / jazz scene. On the flip 'Lost in Kinshasa' is another driving afrobeat club track, with the Ariya horns to the fore.

In 2010 they recorded their debut album for First Word Records. “Crosstown Traffic/Lost In Kinshasa”, the first single to be taken from the album, will be released in March and has already garnered much praise. A second single will follow in the summer with the album being released in the autumn.

Source







Tracklist

01 Crosstown Traffic 4:05
02 Lost In Kinshasa (45Edit) 4:08
03 Lost In Kinshasa (Full Version) 7:25