*Album review originally written by Christian Cortes (SoundScrybe) for Keyframe-Entertainment / Evolver EDM (Dec 2018)
Electronic music label Desert Trax has been on a steady roll in 2018 with a rich discography of deep chill, psychedelic bass, and world beat releases from the likes of Random Rab, Luke Mandala, and Living Light, as well as a stream of singles and EP collections from founders Amani Friend and Treavor Moontribe (Desert Dwellers). Among the most iconic sounds in this wave of soothing and vibrant music is that of Liquid Bloom, who in the last two years has released four uniquely flavored remix collections from a range of talented producers drawn across the electronic music sphere.
The end of 2018 brings a new chapter to Liquid Bloom’s remix story as producer Amani Friend hands the reigns of one of his very first tracks over to nine rising and eminent producers for a contemporary reimagining. Whispers of Our Ancestors Remixes is the tale of a single journey told through nine different perspectives, each offering their own interpretation of the meditative soundscape first envisioned by Amani over twelve years ago.
Like most of Liquid Bloom’s original tracks, “Whispers of Our Ancestors” draws upon a myriad of soothing instrumentals, delicate vocals, and serene elemental samples to create a musical landscape inspired by the shamanic experience and intended for inner exploration. Colored with gentle intrusions of Native American flutes and rattles, Indian-style stringwork, and hauntingly beautiful chanting, the track has offered its remixers a trove of provocative stems and samples to guide their unique sonic visions.
Within the collection, listeners encounter everything from broken-beat chillout and psychedelic bass to slow-house rhythms and techno-styled progressive beats. Connected by the defining features of the original track, each remixer uses distinct beat and bass elements to shape their tracks and explore the boundless layers hidden within the source material.
Among the more expansive remixes, Master Minded offers up a hallucinatory array of fresh tribal instrumentals and energetic synths backed by an indulgent broken beat, while Ancestral Elephants adds a soothing beat progression that relishes in the slow and hypnotic potential of Liquid Bloom’s iconic soundscapes. Desert Tracks label artist Stratusphere explores the delicate and emotive aspects of Whispers with a richly textured psychill interpretation that could easily serve as an opening track to an emotional live performance.
On the dancier side of the spectrum, past Liquid Bloom collaborator Drumspyder adds his signature drum styling and lively stringwork in an energetic, house-styled interpretation ready for the dance floor. On a similar wavelength, Desert Trax artist Griffin Paisley brings his ethereal “slow house” styling to the collection in an atmospheric journey ripe for morning explorations on a dusty dance floor.
Downtempo producer and instrumentalist Momentology comes together with DJ Taz Rashid to offer up two profoundly different remixes: one, a progressive techno-styled dance floor tune, the other, a slow and expansive “yoga dub” revision that plays off the space and energy of the original composition. Complimented by a melodic remix by Moon Frog and a spacious exploration produced in the flavor of the original track by IDM artist Erothyme, Whispers of Our Ancestors Remixes reveals just how deep Liquid Bloom’s journeys can go when viewed through an individual lens.
2019 promises a range of new music and performances by Liquid Bloom as compositions between Amani and his collaborators—most notably instrumental and vocal-looping wizard Poranguí as well as mid-tempo psychedelic bass producer Kaminanda—move out of the studio and into live productions and DJ sets around the world. With a Liquid Bloom world tour currently underway and an EP of all-new material due out on Desert Trax later in the year, followers can expect a full range of new sonic experiences from this blossoming music project for many seasons to come.
Get the album at: https://deserttrax.bandcamp.com/album/whispers-of-our-ancestors-remixes
Keyframe also caught up with the remixers Patrick Kiebzak (PK) and Tazdeen Rashid (Taz) to discuss their inspiration and creative process.
PK says: “Initially Taz and I were inspired to create something both playful & energetic, while still holding a medicinal vibe that would really put the listener into a state of “tribal trance.” After playing with all the beautiful sounds Amani had in his original “Whispers Of Our Ancestors” track, we came up with the faster, steady beat synth driven rendition you hear on the album. There was one part of the track that really stuck out to us, and that was a breakdown which went into halftime; it was only for a very short period, and we wanted to expand on that part. We found it challenging to draw it out any longer, as the song we initially created was meant for an “ecstatic” state and not a slow dubby beat. With that, we decided to create an entirely new version based on that one section.”
Photo: PK by Jessica Om or @wanderingheartist
MOMENTOLOGY aka PATRICK KIEBZAK: Momentology is the multifaceted electronic music project of producer, DJ, instrumentalist, & performer Patrick Kiebzak. Momentology music spawns across genres including downtempo, hip-hop, house, ambient, trap, & dub, all whilst synergizing lush organic soundscapes, live instrumentation, deep bass & vibrational healing frequencies. Momentology has performed at music, art, yoga, flow arts, & transformational festivals & events around the USA, sharing stages with world renowned DJ, musicians, and producers Desert Dwellers, Random Rab, Trevor Hall, Srikalogy, Bluetech, Living Light, The Human Experience, Drumspyder, and more. Patrick features a plethora of lyricists and musicians, collaborating both on stage and in the studio. Visit PK’s website at: www.momentology.net and on Instagram: @momentologymusic
TR says: “We purposefully created a slower downtempo version to give the yogi an invitation to really connect their breath to the beat of the music and facilitate a moving meditation for their practice. Just try it on the yoga mat and you will feel the natural flow of the music for your full round of multiple Sun Salutations. The yoga dub remix can also be a great slow early build track for an ecstatic dance experience. The Tribal remix was created for the dance floor as a song during a trancy peak state. I was thinking of a track a DJ would play during the underworld Zion celebration scene of the movie The Matrix 2 where our ancestors would gather and celebrate one another.
DJ TAZ RASHID aka TAZDEEN RASHID:
DJ Taz Rashid brings a high vibrational energy to any room instantly by mixing the beats and rhythms of Love, Ancient New World, House, Kirtan, Devotional, and all the cosmic sounds. His vision is to be a channel to cause the expansion of all those around by tapping into the creative wisdom of the body and allowing them to feel, let go and awaken.
Taz has been producing and part of creating mindful events globally over the last few years and as a musician, he plays guitar, keyboard, Native American Flute, didgeridoo and hand percussion. He takes these instruments and connects to the Divine and what comes through has the ability to move his crowd to connect to their Divine higher selves. Recently he has been performing and DJing at events such as Yoga Journal Conference, Wanderlust Festivals, Arise Festival, Bhakti Fest, Bali Spirit Fest, and many more high vibrational gatherings while sharing the stage with global acts such as Xavier Rudd, Michael Franti, Trevor Hall, Nahko Bear, MC Yogi, DJ Drez, Guadi and more. Visit TR’s website at: Www.djtazrashid.com and on Instagram: @djtazrashid
Get the album at: https://deserttrax.bandcamp.com/album/whispers-of-our-ancestors-remixes