BLOCO ELECTRO reviews
BBC MUSIC review by Kate Sharp 16 May 2008
After playing to an estimated worldwide audience of 55 million people opening Live Earth, you would assume that you would recognise the gentlemen and lady behind BlocoElectro. Forming part of the SOS All-Stars, the drumming super group of 40 members, led by Roger Taylor of Queen, the band are slowly making the transition between support slots to the main attraction.
Global Beatbox Part 1 is a curious collection of electronic and hip hop-tinged dance, compromised of solely percussive based sounds. Largely influenced by the sound of Brazilian drumming groups (Bloco) and fusing the distinct rhythmic patterns with both Latin and other world beats, BlocoElectro have a sound that is like a thousand holidays rolled into one.
The emphasis is very much on the 'Global' throughout this album, with inspiration gained from just about anywhere you care to mention. Echoes of India, Africa and the Middle East all feature but each influence never sits incongruent to another and each sound seems to meld seamlessly into each other in this international melting pot.
While African Beat also retains a progressive feel with the use of more synthetic drum sound, it is tracks such as Afro Cuba which mesh together the international influences in perhaps the most organic way. By merely allowing these percussive sounds to meet without any electronic intervention, they combine to make the most interesting noises on the album.
Whereas keyboards, decks and loops are usually the staple of most dance music, the lack of such tools does not hinder the sound produced by BlocoElectro. It is perhaps, by not falling into the trap of other bands which use these fusion techniques by layering loops and such to infinitum, that the band retain a rather fresh and uncluttered sound.
Although this album isn't rewriting any of the rule books or trying to punch through any boundaries, it is still a relatively accomplished collection of interesting sounds. After gaining a fan in the shape of Annie Nightingale and having secured a slot on the BBC Introducing tour, you are bound to hear a lot more of this band in the near future.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/6m9x/
EQ Magazine review:
This live breaks/global beats outfit make music that’s full of bloco (Brazilian drumming), Latin grooves and world beats, along with a slice of electro, old skool and hip hop beats plus a sprinkle of forward-thinking electronica. They are the brainchild of Reading-based musician Gavin Lombos, who set up Beatroots Bateria, Reading's samba school in the mid nineties. The band became a Womad institution, leading the massive parade for over 10 years. This album is amazing full of super tracks that take influences from Fela Kutie, Tone Loc, Bomb The Bass and Ananda Shanker, as well as the old-skool vibes of Mantronix. It’s already being championed by Annie Nightingale, who took the band out with her as part of her Introducing Tour, and they’ve played live on her show. Quality vibes. 8/10 (Believe)
Earth Connection
Bijou Breaks review:
Artist - Bloco Electro, Title - Global Beatbox part 1 (LP), Label - Earth Connection
Every now again on this sea of identikit sounds and artists that I find myself sailing upon, an island appears that marks something different. Something fresh. Something bountiful. And when such an island is chanced upon, it's important to make land and gorge upon it's fruits for as long as possible.
Wank stained metaphors aside, Bloco Electro's Global Beatbox is simlpy astounding. Bloco, Brazilian drumming, is created entirely live. That is no decks, no sequencers, no guy with glasses bashing away at a keyboard. Just several drummers all playing a different style, all beautifully sequed together to create a wall of percussion that never attempts to overpower the listener, but is able to create an aural environment to draw you in.
With it's mix of bossa, electro, latin, bhangra and an array of other rhythmic styles, Gavin Lombos has created a masterpiece. This is an extravagant piece, and with what is in effect a concept album, the risk of it all going a bit self important and up itself is high. Thankfully, all trips down self indulgent alley are avoided, and the album retains a clean air of funk, which it delivers with aplomb.
Overal, a break from the norm in terms of what you may usually listen to, but a worthwhile excursion to new territories may be just what is required.
BBC MUSIC review by Kate Sharp 16 May 2008
After playing to an estimated worldwide audience of 55 million people opening Live Earth, you would assume that you would recognise the gentlemen and lady behind BlocoElectro. Forming part of the SOS All-Stars, the drumming super group of 40 members, led by Roger Taylor of Queen, the band are slowly making the transition between support slots to the main attraction.
Global Beatbox Part 1 is a curious collection of electronic and hip hop-tinged dance, compromised of solely percussive based sounds. Largely influenced by the sound of Brazilian drumming groups (Bloco) and fusing the distinct rhythmic patterns with both Latin and other world beats, BlocoElectro have a sound that is like a thousand holidays rolled into one.
The emphasis is very much on the 'Global' throughout this album, with inspiration gained from just about anywhere you care to mention. Echoes of India, Africa and the Middle East all feature but each influence never sits incongruent to another and each sound seems to meld seamlessly into each other in this international melting pot.
While African Beat also retains a progressive feel with the use of more synthetic drum sound, it is tracks such as Afro Cuba which mesh together the international influences in perhaps the most organic way. By merely allowing these percussive sounds to meet without any electronic intervention, they combine to make the most interesting noises on the album.
Whereas keyboards, decks and loops are usually the staple of most dance music, the lack of such tools does not hinder the sound produced by BlocoElectro. It is perhaps, by not falling into the trap of other bands which use these fusion techniques by layering loops and such to infinitum, that the band retain a rather fresh and uncluttered sound.
Although this album isn't rewriting any of the rule books or trying to punch through any boundaries, it is still a relatively accomplished collection of interesting sounds. After gaining a fan in the shape of Annie Nightingale and having secured a slot on the BBC Introducing tour, you are bound to hear a lot more of this band in the near future.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/6m9x/
EQ Magazine review:
This live breaks/global beats outfit make music that’s full of bloco (Brazilian drumming), Latin grooves and world beats, along with a slice of electro, old skool and hip hop beats plus a sprinkle of forward-thinking electronica. They are the brainchild of Reading-based musician Gavin Lombos, who set up Beatroots Bateria, Reading's samba school in the mid nineties. The band became a Womad institution, leading the massive parade for over 10 years. This album is amazing full of super tracks that take influences from Fela Kutie, Tone Loc, Bomb The Bass and Ananda Shanker, as well as the old-skool vibes of Mantronix. It’s already being championed by Annie Nightingale, who took the band out with her as part of her Introducing Tour, and they’ve played live on her show. Quality vibes. 8/10 (Believe)
Earth Connection
Bijou Breaks review:
Artist - Bloco Electro, Title - Global Beatbox part 1 (LP), Label - Earth Connection
Every now again on this sea of identikit sounds and artists that I find myself sailing upon, an island appears that marks something different. Something fresh. Something bountiful. And when such an island is chanced upon, it's important to make land and gorge upon it's fruits for as long as possible.
Wank stained metaphors aside, Bloco Electro's Global Beatbox is simlpy astounding. Bloco, Brazilian drumming, is created entirely live. That is no decks, no sequencers, no guy with glasses bashing away at a keyboard. Just several drummers all playing a different style, all beautifully sequed together to create a wall of percussion that never attempts to overpower the listener, but is able to create an aural environment to draw you in.
With it's mix of bossa, electro, latin, bhangra and an array of other rhythmic styles, Gavin Lombos has created a masterpiece. This is an extravagant piece, and with what is in effect a concept album, the risk of it all going a bit self important and up itself is high. Thankfully, all trips down self indulgent alley are avoided, and the album retains a clean air of funk, which it delivers with aplomb.
Overal, a break from the norm in terms of what you may usually listen to, but a worthwhile excursion to new territories may be just what is required.
Dance Electronic Funk Electro