This is a perfect opportunity to round off the Balkan theme. The Serbian group Soulcraft from Belgrade, perhaps known to some through their collaboration with Hornsman Coyote, has released a new album. The current album is titled "Soulcraft & Masso Narradi: Book Of Life, Chapter 1 (Dare To Walk The Path Of Righteous)The band invited the jazz wind trio Masso Narradi into the studio. The EP comprises four instrumental pieces and their accompanying music. Dub-Pendants. The opus is released by the Dutch label Earth Works Outernational from Amsterdam.
Soulcraft was founded in 2013 and comprises experienced musicians from the local reggae, blues, and punk scenes. They have been active in the Belgrade music scene for over twenty years and are committed to preserving and promoting reggae. The band draws inspiration from the roots reggae of the 70s and 80s, as well as from the messages of artists such as Burning Spear, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Steel Pulse, Misty in Roots, and others. Soulcraft has established itself as one of the most active reggae groups in the former Yugoslavia. They also work closely with the Guyanese singer Ras Mac Bean, who lives in France and is also a friend.
In the summer of 2024, the band met at Belgrade's Sick Touch Studio with the jazz trio Masso Narradi to record some new pieces. With the help of these three renowned brass players from the Serbian jazz scene, an incredible 24 tracks were created. Sixteen of these are slated for later release as Chapter II and Chapter III. The eight tracks released so far, from Chapter I, offer a powerful journey through roots, reggae, Dub and jazz. They follow in the tradition of great artists such as Rico Rodriguez, Nils Petter Molvær together with Sly & Robbie, and the Skatalites. The recording and production of the album were entirely handled by the band together with Aleksandar Markovic, also known as Echomer. The sound is both warm and clear, and the mixing was done with great care. The instrumentals, as well as their DubThe counterparts can be described as very successful, especially since the instrumentals already made ample use of reverb and echo. For the most passionate DubA vinyl edition is planned for spring 2026 for enthusiasts and record collectors!
A response to “Soulcraft & Masso Narradi: Book Of Life Chapter 1 (Dare To Walk The Path Of Righteous)”
"For the current album "Soulcraft & Masso Narradi: Book Of Life, Chapter 1 (Dare To Walk The Path Of Righteous)", the band invited the jazz wind trio Masso Narradi into the studio."
To me, that sounded like a warning! A jazz brass trio (gnlpfztbrackgongkleb). And yes, the warning is unfortunately justified.
Thank you for the warning!
But I simply like the album too much "lower end" to just "pick" on the brass section. Yes, the sound is really "warm and clear," and I quite enjoy not only the reverb and echo effects but also other little effects flourishes. The "lower end" works really well in the instrumentals. Now, I could be happy that the brass section in the Dubhas been put "back in line." But even there, they're still occasionally too "cheeky" for my taste. And above all, not "happy" enough. It usually feels too heavy and too sad. Perhaps that perfectly reflects our general situation. Times don't feel rosy anymore. But maybe that's precisely why I long for a bit more "upliftment" from melodies and everything responsible for those melodies. In "Psalm V," the trumpet plays the way I like it, but then it's drowned out again by the usual "brass mush."
"Dreary and boring" is the impression I get. The "sacrosophone" creates a "pulling" sound in my ears, which ultimately spoils the whole album for me. Even in the DubThey take – it feels – too long
“Driving”, especially sackbut tones “mixed in”, which to me feel like biting into the seeds of a grape.
Yes, I'm (not really) sorry. With brass instruments, less is always more for me! I know myself too well by now, and I know perfectly well that I wouldn't listen to the album (even on vinyl) very often. As good as grapes can taste, the moment I bite into the seeds, not just the berry, but the whole bunch is ruined…
You know what I mean. There are also seedless grapes, and just as I only eat seedless grapes now, I'm also careful to...
Jazz brass trios in good condition Dubto avoid s or instrumentals.
No offense. There was and remains plenty of time for more cheerful comments.
How long …………………. lemmi