The Shaolin Afronauts At Juno Download

Review: You can always depend on Freestyle to unearth and nurture the finest of funk's fringes, and The Shaolin Afronauts are a fine example of this great A&R. Sounding like they've just emerged from a Nigerian township circa 1970, but actually coming from Australia in the 21st century, their dedication to the Afro soul, Cuban funk and experimental jazz of the past four decades is commendably authentic. Pretty prolific, too: their debut album Flight Of The Ancients only came our way last year but yet they've already followed it up with an equally captivating, spiritually swinging sophomore that blasts, parps and fires its way into your brain. Conjuring the vibes of Fela Kuti, Sun Ra, Tony Allen and even dashes of Roy Ayers, this is one expansive long player.

Review: Pitched somewhere between the rhythms of Fela Kuti and the sharp instrumentation and funk of Mulatu Astatke, Australian band The Shaolin Afronauts shine on this new LP. Boasting a three-piece horn crew, five on the rhythm section and a further three percussionists, they're more juggernaut than Afronaut, thundering in with live tunes like "Shira" and "Journey Through Time" like they were Kool and the Gang relocated to 70's Ethiopia. On a fast vibe, the lyrical guitars of "Kilimanjaro" are a delight, while the deep and slow sax-dominated "The Scarab" is nicely evocative of North Africa. What's most stunning is just how well they've captured both the sounds and styles of their influences on this dreamy instrumental funk set.

Review: A side-project from Adelaide funkateers The Transatlantics, The Shaolin Afronauts let Afro-beat and Ethiopiques influences shine through over these two new tracks. "Journey Through Time" is a mystic groover with plenty of brass-driven charm, live percussion and some killer sax solos - all underpinned by effortlessly funky drumming. "Kibo" ups the pace a little for a Fela-esque jam with an itchy bassline and even more rambunctious percussion. Look out for a full-length LP later in the year.

Review: Having made a big impression with their debut LP Flight Of The Ancients, Australian band The Shaolin Afronauts follow it up in style with "Quest Under Capricorn". With an ability to evoke a superb mix of Pharaoh Sanders, Ethiopiques and Miles Davis, the wailing mournful sax of opener "Brooklyn"is instantly engaging and ushers in an album of truly standout delights - from the hushed "Gayanamede Prelude" to the riotous "The End of a Sun".