Description
SlowBurn Records is proud to announce the release of Cobracalia’s self-titled debut recording. Cobracalia formed out of the now defunct Tucson psych-rock legends Black Sun Ensemble. After BSE’s founder/guitarist Jesus Acedo died in March of 2013, the band chose to continue to write, record and perform under the name Cobracalia, a song title from Black Sun Ensemble 1985 debut recording, as a tribute. The band began work on the self-titled debut in March of 2014. The band’s numbers swelled to 8 members after adding drummer Darin Guthrie, Jillian Lacroix-Martin on violin and Michael Henderson on guitar and oud for the CD release concert for Black Sun Ensemble’s final recording ‘Behind Purple Clouds.’ Cobracalia debut features this line-up in addition to longtime BSE members Eric Johnson (bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals); Scott Kerr (acoustic/electronic percussion); Joe E. Furno (flute, vocals); Carl Hall (percussion) and Fonda Insley (percussion). The recording took another set forward for a band that has spent years looking beyond the backyard fenceposts. While moving away from the Middle-Eastern influenced rock of ‘Behind Purple Clouds,’ the music decidedly more percussion heavy. Songs like ‘Mandala,’ ‘Queen of the Night’ and a reworking of BSE’s ‘Egyptian Magician’ play like sonic stories fueled by exotic percussion and Guthrie’s solid and supportive drumming. ‘Lotus’ and ‘Gas Giant’ are atmospheric adventures that are both contemplative and evolving. There are two vocal songs in the collection, ‘Wrong Again,’ sung by flautist Joe E. Furno and ‘Fistful of Flowers’ by Eric Johnson. Both songs are both experimental and still operate within a pop song format. Cobracalia’s debut successfully combines the best of prog/pysch-rock with World Music influences to create a unique sonic statement that both honors it’s lineage with Black Sun Ensemble and, at the same time, has created it’s own musical universe.
