Wonder what would have happened if someone sent Black Sabbath to study polyrhythms in Africa back in the seventies? Can you imagine the fusion between Tony Iommi’s riffs and Fela Kuti’s grooves? If you find these thoughts curious, then you should definitely check out Here Lies Man’s eponymous 2017 album. These guys from L.A. caught my attention while searching for new albums on YouTube. Amidst the neo-psyche, retro rock bands of today, Here Lies Man immediately distinguish from the herd with their infectious rhythms under the distorted, guitar-driven harmonies and song structures. A DJ could easily put the band in groovy sets as well as in a rocking party surrounding.
The quintet is founded and conceptualized by Marcos Garcia of Antibalas, a Brooklyn-based afrobeat band that is modeled after Fela Kuti's Africa 70 band and Eddie Palmieri's Harlem River Drive Orchestra. Bringing his erudite experience of West African rhythms and music to the more riff-based foundations of heavy rock, Garcia managed to assemble Here Lies Man and turn his diverse interest into a very interesting and promising project. The results are an incredibly catchy and refreshing twist on classic forms, without sounding forced and trite like some sort of mash-up attempt. Here Lies Man merges and expands musical traditions organically, utilizing the talents of drummer Geoff Mann (son of jazz musician Herbie Mann) and a host of skilled musicians to make Garcia’s vision a reality.
The band’s founder and leader explained the formation and the idea behind the group with the following words: “The repetitive guitar figures that happen in Afrobeat music are very close to heavy rock guitar riffs. This music is based on the clave. It’s the musical algorithm that the rhythms revolve around. It’s what gives it integrity and provides the basis for the musical conversation that’s happening. I knew I wanted it to be psychedelic and heavy, and I wanted to be expanding on a musical tradition rather than pretending to be creating something new.”
And that expansion is the brilliant, hazy, psychedelic, hook-laden 8-song masterwork Here Lies Man is available on LP, CD, and download on April 7th, 2017 via RidingEasy Records. Go and buy yourselves this record, it is worth having it in your collection. If you don’t trust me, listen to the album on YouTube and decide for yourselves if I am right or mistaken.
