LOST CITY

Soothsayers first album Lost City is a unique afro jazz reggae journey, mainly instrumental and containing uplifting melodies and wonderful horn interplay between band leaders Idris Rahman and Robin Hopcraft. The album represents many of the influences heard on Soothsayers’ later albums but has a heavier jazz flavour. Afrobeat, reggae and South African influences are prevalent and there is an impressive list of guest musicians on the album including South African guitarist Luck Ranku, Hugh Masekela’s pecussionist, Frances Fuster, Frank Tontoh and Daniel Crosby on drums , and top UK vibes player Rojer Beaujolais.

Most of the tracks are Soothsayers originals but there are also versions of Abdullah Ibrahim’s ‘Ishmael’ and ‘Blazing Horns’ by Jamaican horn players Tommy Mckook and Bobby Ellis. There are two vocals tracks on the album featuring the elder statesman of Afrobeat, Adesose Wallace – ‘Follow Your Path’ is a heavy and sweet Fela-style groove with fat horn section and ‘Orin Ojishe’ is reflective and spiritual call to the ancestors. The album is put together in a thoughtful way, and the various styles have a coherent and engaging flow.