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The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble

Mutations EP

(Ad Noiseam; US: 27 Jan 2009; UK: Available as import)

Now known infamously for his hardcore jungle persona Bong-Ra, Jason Köhnen actually formed the Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble around the turn of the millennium along side an A/V schoolmate and drummer named Gideon Kiers. Originally a small project dedicated to the creation of new scores for existing, often classic silent films, the duo slowly blossomed into a sextet (and counting). A cellist, trombonist, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist singer all contributed to the collective’s eponymous debut, released by Mike “µ-Ziq” Paradinas’s highly influential Planet Mu in 2006.


With a significantly less focused Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation collaboration in between, Mutations adds a violinist to the mix while continuing their live improvisation based exploration of creepy post-rock, experimental jazz, and drone electronica. As great as the debut record was, everything about this EP teaser for the upcoming sophomore full-length on Ad Noiseam indicates it will be a superior product. The production is that much more spooky, rich, and atmospheric, and the song structure that much more purposeful and realized. It seems they have struck a perfect symmetry in the studio as a group, feeding off one another and performing cohesively. There is not a wasted moment to be heard. Mutations will slide its greasy fingers up your spine and linger there until you like it.

Rating:

Greetings, brothers and sisters. Like most of you reading this, I'm a fan of music. I spend most of my time researching, investigating, making, and exploring music. Since 2004, my concert and album reviews, essays, and columns have appeared in publications such as Tiny Mix Tapes, PopMatters, Exclaim!, and I've been a Polaris Music Prize juror since 2010. I will graduate with a BFA in music from the Contemporary Arts program at Simon Fraser University in October of 2011. I am happy to live in East Vancouver with my sketchy but sweet cat Isobel Dewsabelski.


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The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble - Shadows
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