ATOMGA - Black Belt (CD, self-released, 2015) mixed & mastered by Grant Phabao
ATOMGA, a world-funk outfit from Denver, Colorado, have been under Paris DJs' radar since their early 2014 self-titled EP (released for free on atomga.bandcamp.com). The excellent opener from that EP, 'Empire', nearly made it to the final selections of our series of Afro/tropical compilations, and we had decided to follow more closely what would come next from the band. Well the afrofunk world is a small one, and it was an email that came next, asking if our in-house sound engineer Grant Phabao would be available for mixing and mastering a new ATOMGA album!!
A few weeks later the resulting new LP is here, called 'Black Belt', to be released on june 6th, 2015.
Full info & stream below.
ATOMGA - Black Belt
(CD/Thumb Drive/Digital) self-released, 2015-06-06
Tracklisting :
01. Salt and Pepper 2:11
02. Sly Devil 6:25
03. Cressidation 6:33
04. Wacks 3:32
05. Cobra Kai 6:20
06. Reisster Eggs 4:46
07. Alaskan Pipeline 8:09
08. Lurkin' 7:24
09. Alaskan Pipeline (Grant Phabao Remix) 6:12
Note : a limited run of vinyl is in the plans
Credits :
Kendra Kreie ~ Vocals
Casey Hrdlicka ~ Guitar
Peter Mouser ~ Hammond B3 and Fender Rhodes
Alice Hansen ~ Trumpet
Frank Roddy ~ Tenor Saxophone
Leah Concialdi ~ Baritone Saxophone
Cody Schlueter ~ Timbales, Percussion
Jared Fischer ~ Congas, Percussion
Samuel Lafalce ~ Bass Guitar
Jeff Reiss ~ Drums
Recorded by Josh Fairman at Scanhope Sound
Mixed and Mastered by Grant Phabao at Paris DJs
Artwork by Tristes Marie
Produced by ATOMGA
Links :
ATOMGA : official | bandcamp | facebook | soundcloud | youtube
Grant Phabao : official | bandcamp | facebook | juno | parisdjs | soundcloud | youtube
Press Release :
ATOMGA Unleashes a World-Funk Fury with Full-Length Album "Black Belt"
From their humble beginnings of being hailed "Denver’s newest party band" to the sophisticated praise of "specialists of authentic Nigerian afrobeat", Colorado-based world-funk outfit, ATOMGA is leading the charge in musical fusion with the release of their first full-length LP, 'Black Belt'. While the band thrives on whipping audiences into a sweaty, danceable hysteria that’s rooted in afrobeat, 'Black Belt' will showcase the outfit on a much more lateral level that is not confined to finite musical pigeonholes. Comprised of 10 members oozing with soulful vocals, vigorous horn lines, and a rhythm section that lays down the law in the pocket, 'Black Belt' will be released on June 6th at The Bluebird Theater in Denver Colorado.
While this is the band’s first full-length album, ATOMGA has been a staple in the Denver music circuit for nearly 4 years embarking on a tear of festival appearances, headlining theater shows, and never veering away from their true love of multi-set ragers. After dissecting an archive of Fela Kuti songs and other works from the genre’s forefathers, ATOMGA took to a style of their own blossoming into an original brand of music slathered with influences ranging from classic funk, Brazilian pop, progressive rock, and beyond. This melting pot of musical styles coupled with socially conscious lyrics that go beyond blasé love songs and delve further into self-exploration, resisting government oppression, and celebrating life showcase a truly special project that appeals to listeners from all of life's callings, yet doesn’t sound quite like anything else.
The group released their self-titled EP early 2014. This 5-track endeavor bobs and weaves through a plethora of meters firmly grounded in afrobeat, yet laced with unapologetic funk-encumbered horn lines and soulful vocals. The release was hailed as "some of the heaviest afrofunk recorded in recent years" (Marquee Magazine) and has worked its way onto cult-followed Spotify Playlists and garnered attention of well-respected afrobeat publication, African Jazz, being listed as a "recommended newcomer" and "recommended big band release."
As the name would imply, 'Black Belt' highlights new levels of musical mastery and fearlessness - and a sound like no other group on the scene. While the afrobeat influence is still intact, there are hints of Bollywood surf music, straight-ahead funk, Brazilian carnival fanfares, and middle eastern modes smeared all over this 9-track work. Both the lyrics and compositions are results of more experience and a musical chemistry that is not afraid to break barriers and try anything. Rather than entering the studio with a catalogue with material ready to go, ATOMGA would polish 2-3 songs at once and record them in small batches. This kept the group fresh and able to display a multitude of influences rather of thinking about the album on a conceptual level. However, when the final track list and song order were crafted, everything flowed effortlessly with no song out of place. While a handful of songs have been road tested over the past year and a half, there are a number of songs that live audiences have never heard that will be debuted live at The Bluebird on June 6th.
Behind the scenes, 'Black Belt' has a team of musical samurais behind it. The album was tracked at Scanhope Sound with long-time friend and musical colleague, Josh Fairman (Analog Son, Kinetix) and recorded to tape giving it a warm, vintage 70s feel. Having a firm grasp of the band’s sound and knowing his studio’s capabilities, a bulk of the songs on 'Black Belt' were tracked live with no overdubs which required every band member to sharpen their swords and meditate on every detail. Upon tracking completion, ATOMGA sent the album to Paris DJs to be mixed and mastered with Grant Phabao, an internationally-renowned engineer and producer best known for his work remixing tracks from everyone from Lee Fields to Brownout to Alice Russell. ATOMGA even enlisted Phabao to remix a track of his choosing and he put an original one drop/reggae feel on perhaps the most complex song on the album, 'Alaskan Pipeline'.
In addition to a release party that is sure to be the biggest night of the band's career, ATOMGA will be hosting an advanced listening party at Park House in Denver, CO where fans and friends can kick back, relax, and gather to hear "Black Belt" before anyone else. This is doubling as a tapping party of ATOMGA Imperial Stout brewed by Moffat Station Brewing.
For more information on what lies ahead for this powerhouse project with tricks constantly up their sleeve, make sure to visit: atomga.com.
A few weeks later the resulting new LP is here, called 'Black Belt', to be released on june 6th, 2015.
Full info & stream below.
ATOMGA - Black Belt
(CD/Thumb Drive/Digital) self-released, 2015-06-06
Tracklisting :
01. Salt and Pepper 2:11
02. Sly Devil 6:25
03. Cressidation 6:33
04. Wacks 3:32
05. Cobra Kai 6:20
06. Reisster Eggs 4:46
07. Alaskan Pipeline 8:09
08. Lurkin' 7:24
09. Alaskan Pipeline (Grant Phabao Remix) 6:12
Note : a limited run of vinyl is in the plans
Credits :
Kendra Kreie ~ Vocals
Casey Hrdlicka ~ Guitar
Peter Mouser ~ Hammond B3 and Fender Rhodes
Alice Hansen ~ Trumpet
Frank Roddy ~ Tenor Saxophone
Leah Concialdi ~ Baritone Saxophone
Cody Schlueter ~ Timbales, Percussion
Jared Fischer ~ Congas, Percussion
Samuel Lafalce ~ Bass Guitar
Jeff Reiss ~ Drums
Recorded by Josh Fairman at Scanhope Sound
Mixed and Mastered by Grant Phabao at Paris DJs
Artwork by Tristes Marie
Produced by ATOMGA
Links :
ATOMGA : official | bandcamp | facebook | soundcloud | youtube
Grant Phabao : official | bandcamp | facebook | juno | parisdjs | soundcloud | youtube
Press Release :
ATOMGA Unleashes a World-Funk Fury with Full-Length Album "Black Belt"
From their humble beginnings of being hailed "Denver’s newest party band" to the sophisticated praise of "specialists of authentic Nigerian afrobeat", Colorado-based world-funk outfit, ATOMGA is leading the charge in musical fusion with the release of their first full-length LP, 'Black Belt'. While the band thrives on whipping audiences into a sweaty, danceable hysteria that’s rooted in afrobeat, 'Black Belt' will showcase the outfit on a much more lateral level that is not confined to finite musical pigeonholes. Comprised of 10 members oozing with soulful vocals, vigorous horn lines, and a rhythm section that lays down the law in the pocket, 'Black Belt' will be released on June 6th at The Bluebird Theater in Denver Colorado.
While this is the band’s first full-length album, ATOMGA has been a staple in the Denver music circuit for nearly 4 years embarking on a tear of festival appearances, headlining theater shows, and never veering away from their true love of multi-set ragers. After dissecting an archive of Fela Kuti songs and other works from the genre’s forefathers, ATOMGA took to a style of their own blossoming into an original brand of music slathered with influences ranging from classic funk, Brazilian pop, progressive rock, and beyond. This melting pot of musical styles coupled with socially conscious lyrics that go beyond blasé love songs and delve further into self-exploration, resisting government oppression, and celebrating life showcase a truly special project that appeals to listeners from all of life's callings, yet doesn’t sound quite like anything else.
The group released their self-titled EP early 2014. This 5-track endeavor bobs and weaves through a plethora of meters firmly grounded in afrobeat, yet laced with unapologetic funk-encumbered horn lines and soulful vocals. The release was hailed as "some of the heaviest afrofunk recorded in recent years" (Marquee Magazine) and has worked its way onto cult-followed Spotify Playlists and garnered attention of well-respected afrobeat publication, African Jazz, being listed as a "recommended newcomer" and "recommended big band release."
As the name would imply, 'Black Belt' highlights new levels of musical mastery and fearlessness - and a sound like no other group on the scene. While the afrobeat influence is still intact, there are hints of Bollywood surf music, straight-ahead funk, Brazilian carnival fanfares, and middle eastern modes smeared all over this 9-track work. Both the lyrics and compositions are results of more experience and a musical chemistry that is not afraid to break barriers and try anything. Rather than entering the studio with a catalogue with material ready to go, ATOMGA would polish 2-3 songs at once and record them in small batches. This kept the group fresh and able to display a multitude of influences rather of thinking about the album on a conceptual level. However, when the final track list and song order were crafted, everything flowed effortlessly with no song out of place. While a handful of songs have been road tested over the past year and a half, there are a number of songs that live audiences have never heard that will be debuted live at The Bluebird on June 6th.
Behind the scenes, 'Black Belt' has a team of musical samurais behind it. The album was tracked at Scanhope Sound with long-time friend and musical colleague, Josh Fairman (Analog Son, Kinetix) and recorded to tape giving it a warm, vintage 70s feel. Having a firm grasp of the band’s sound and knowing his studio’s capabilities, a bulk of the songs on 'Black Belt' were tracked live with no overdubs which required every band member to sharpen their swords and meditate on every detail. Upon tracking completion, ATOMGA sent the album to Paris DJs to be mixed and mastered with Grant Phabao, an internationally-renowned engineer and producer best known for his work remixing tracks from everyone from Lee Fields to Brownout to Alice Russell. ATOMGA even enlisted Phabao to remix a track of his choosing and he put an original one drop/reggae feel on perhaps the most complex song on the album, 'Alaskan Pipeline'.
In addition to a release party that is sure to be the biggest night of the band's career, ATOMGA will be hosting an advanced listening party at Park House in Denver, CO where fans and friends can kick back, relax, and gather to hear "Black Belt" before anyone else. This is doubling as a tapping party of ATOMGA Imperial Stout brewed by Moffat Station Brewing.
For more information on what lies ahead for this powerhouse project with tricks constantly up their sleeve, make sure to visit: atomga.com.
Original post on Paris DJs