Mood Hut
Disco Mantras
Vancouver`s Mysterious Mood Hut collective plot a trippy course through foggy ambience, name checking John Martyn on the way. Tropical Highlife, King Sunny Ade`s Ju Ju in Dub, a groove like the Funkees` “Akula Owu Onyeara”. A gentle flowing percussive river rippled by currents of cosmic synth, diffuse clouds of sound and sampled utterances. Broken clockwork and strange key washes mix like Sotofett live in it. African rhythms falling further into an echoed distance. Drones and chants. Diskant-like turntable turbulence. Reggae steps in double-time, serenaded by modal sax. Woodwinds blow while a break beat runs at half-speed. Fusion bass so lows. Wordless vocal harmonies attempt to heal a hurting Dave Crosby. "Disco Mantras" is The Orb gone Jazz, last year`s “Gong Bath” gone dancin`, while something about Mood Hut`s first long player makes me think of Rotary Connection and Minnie Riperton. Maybe it`s the beauty in the high notes.