CD Review: Loka Fire Shepherds
Loka
Fire Shepherds
Ninja Tune Recordings
One of the best instrumental releases of the year, Liverpool duo Loka’s Fire Shepherds mixes funk, jazz, rock and hip-hop in truly inspiring ways. Songs are generally built around one riff, repeated throughout the song, as the rhythm changes and different instruments pop in and out of the mix. With saxophone, flute, bass and keys taking the lead at times, this album recalls the mostly instrumental rock/jazz hybrids of the late ‘60s/early ‘70s from the likes of Weather Report and Mahavishnu Orchestra. Ten-minute epic ”Freda Mae” wanders through various moods and comes off like the score to some long-lost, short crime film of the ‘70s. The highlight of the album comes on the last track, “Tabernacle Part 2”, a bass-driven song with classic, cool jazz drums and strings. Loka’s Karl Webb and Mark Kyriacou hope to bring their act stateside, with a full band, in a show that should definitely not be missed.
–Brian Brophy
