A journey inspired by early African electronic music and modern beats. Drumphilia volume 1 is a rhythmic experiment that sits on the fault line between traditional instrumentation and analogue electronics. The project is a response to many years spent working with, learning about and listening to African and Caribbean percussion. Traditional rhythmic influences are combined with analogue drum machines and drum synths to create a hybrid sound that continues in the tradition of artists like Frances Bebey. There are no traditional harmonic instruments on the recordings - the aim was to create melody and texture using only carefully tuned percussion instruments, whether organic or electronic. Basslines were created by blending drum synth tones with the acoustic marimbula, a traditional Caribbean instrument that was often used in place of a bass guitar. Melodies were created with everything from log drums and thumb pianos to early Soviet drum modules and the trailblazing Pearl Syncussion SY-1. Various time signatures and textures are used across the album to produce melody out of rhythm - hypnotic, evolving tracks that celebrate and highlight the importance of rhythm in modern music.
