All My Relations

The beauty of this creative work is that you’ll hear different sounds almost every time you play it. The melodies are infectious, and the playing is immensely inspired. It’s a risky concept that succeeds brilliantly.

It's a globetrotting affair: the wah-wah brass and dhol drums of "Mitote" make for a savoury blend, the Indigenous chants and percussion reverberate in title track "All My Relations," the mid-'70s Stevie Wonder/Herbie Hancock-styled funk of "Mescalero" hits the spiritual spot, while the smooth sax of "Seyewailo" offer up a sonic take on bliss.

All My Relations boasts a syncopated charm that stems from the freedom of groove inherent in jam sessions. But the album’s spiritual elevation comes from Gastelum’s songwriting process.

Cochemea makes omnivorous music, antsy and tough to pin down. As you’d expect from a Daptone production, it has a crisp, clipped vintage-gear airiness and an earthy rare groove feel.

Warm and thoughtful as the intentions behind it, the music on Relations at times skirts close to the territory occupied by those Persuasive Percussion albums that clutter up used LP bins.