In the time that’s elapsed since its last proper album, 2010’s A Chorus Of Storytellers, Jimmy LaValle’s the Album Leaf has popped up with a soundtrack release and a collab with Sun Kil Moon, but the entity’s (the new Between Waves is the first A. Leaf LP to be made as a band effort) exploration of all things ambient, electronic and organically understated when it comes to both instrumental endeavors and the application of the aforementioned to a very contemporary-sounding indie-pop is what prevails on Between Waves. The Album Leaf will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our review of Between Waves.
Brad Lee: I stumbled across William Onyeabor for the first time a few months back, and had my mind completely blown. I got the Luaka Bop re-release and listened to it on repeat for weeks. To me, it’s everything I love about Fela Kuti, with the added bonus of some funky drum machines and synths. The lyrics to “Good Name” are so righteous. “Good name is better than silver and gold”; words to live by in my opinion. It’s always interesting to me when I discover something so old, but get to enjoy it like it’s new. It makes me think about all the music we put out in the world. Some kid may hear Between Waves for the first time 30 years from now. It also makes me wonder what other gems are out there waiting to be discovered.
Video after the jump.
http://www.williamonyeabor.com
