Yours truly first discovered Swiss band Cosmic Shuffling with the release of their 2020 debut album, 'Magic Rocket Ship'. Unfortunately, its follow-up, 'Cosmic Quest', didn't reach us, but with 'Lovonauts' Odyssey', the six-piece band from Geneva continues their intergalactic journey through the realms of ska and rocksteady.
By Jah Rebel
The track list features ten instrumental gems, with titles like ‘Sputnik’, ‘Sun Storm’ and ‘Laika’s Lament’, once again nodding to The Skatalites’ legacy and their frequent references to the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.
On ‘Lovonauts’ Odyssey’, the seven core musicians of Cosmic Shuffling (Loïc Moret - drums and percussion, Hadrien Rossier - bass, Mathias Liengme - keys, Andrei Meshkov Pervikov - guitar, Anthony Dietrich Buclin - trombone, Basile Rickli - saxophone and Leo Mohr - ghost vocals) are joined by a constellation of guest artists, enriching the sound even further.
Highlighting standout tracks from the album is no easy task, but our personal favourites include ‘Poor M. Collins’ (a tribute to astronaut Michael Collins, who, during the historic Apollo 11 mission, had to remain in the command module while his crewmates landed on the Moon), showcasing performances by trumpeter Zacharie Ksyk, trombonist Anthony Dietrich Buclin and flautist Manuel Gesseney, ‘Laika’s Lament’, featuring a stellar interplay between Tom Brunt’s guitar and Manuel Gesseney’s alto saxophone, and finally ‘Asteroid Field II’, offering an exhilarating ride with alto saxophonist John Menoud delivering an extended, free-jazz-inspired solo.
Forty minutes of pure instrumental bliss!
Founder alongside Jah Shakespear who transitioned to this role in late 2014. Previously worked as critic and reporter, balancing passions for music and Haile Selassie spirituality.
November 23, 2024