It’s amazing how limited our sphere of musical knowledge can be, even if we have come to believe that we have an eclectic taste. Which is not meant by any way of a criticism, but rather an acknowledgement that humans tend to cleave to the familiar – and I am surely no exception. As such, if this feels rather more like an exploration than a review, that’s because that’s exactly what it is. Shorn of the usual frames of reference, it’s as much an introduction to the music of the Amazon for me as it is for you, but I hope it conveys some of sense of wonder the album evokes.
For me, one of the most eye-opening events of my musical life was to attend a live show by Barrett Martin, the former Screaming Trees drummer and ethnomusicologist, whose overarching passion for music in all its forms led him to travel the world, connecting with fellow musicians along the way. During the show, he talked with such enthusiasm about his travels that it was impossible not to be swept along by the tide of his restless spirit, and it introduced me to a wider musical world – albeit one that I have hardly begun to explore in any depth.
Now immortalised for a wider audience, Barrett’s travels have been extensively documented in documentary series, The Singing Earth. Previewed on Barrett’s tour, much of the series explores a musical world so far outside the western musical sphere as to be unrecognisable to many, and the first episode – which is available to view now – introduces the Shipibo Shamans. Titled Woven Songs Of The Amazon, it is both named for, and perfectly complements, Barrett’s latest musical venture as a producer – Woven Songs Of The Amazon III.
Billed to The Shipibo Shamans & Special Guests, the presence of Matt Cameron (Soundgarden / Pearl Jam), as well as former members of Nirvana and QOTSA, may attract listeners from a certain musical persuasion, but this is absolutely the music of the Shamans (with all proceeds going to them and their families), and the guests – who were invited by the shamans – have the grace to play their supporting roles calmly and within none of the ego you might expect given their prominence.
The songs themselves, which are sacred healing songs known as “Icaros”, sound alien at first – otherworldly. While those who are more familiar with very early folk music may find some commonality, there is a purity in both intent and execution, which is largely unsullied by the expansionist tendencies of Western media. As the culture shock abates, what remains is something hypnotic, with each listener liable to experience the music according to their own inner self. As one interviewee – Enrique – notes in the episode, “you’ll feel it all over your body, in your head and your feet” – and the music, often performed in conjunction with the use of Ayahuasca, a psychoactive drink – has exactly that effect. It is music “to heal, to clean, to have a better mind, to free the mind, [and] to lessen the worry” and it has a beauty that is almost luminous.
Best enjoyed in conjunction with The Singing Earth, not least because Barrett’s passion is infectious, for those who have not previously encountered this type of music, the documentary provides a level of background that makes you appreciate the record all the more.
The opening track will be familiar to anyone who saw Barrett on his remarkable tour. Titled Icaro De Bienvenida Al Universo, it starts with Enrique introducing himself. With Barrett adding delicate musical flourishes, it is alive with the sounds of the Amazon, and it may well prove to be the most challenging for the unfamiliar, as its unconventional rhythms and raw recording sit so far outside the commercial paradigm to which we are used. It’s followed by the gently rippling Icaro A Los Elementos Agua Viento Y Fuego – a tribute to the elements of water, wind, and fire – which finds Magdalena Flores Agustin adding her voice to Barrett’s mesmerising backdrop. It’s worth playing loud, as the glorious bass notes really reverberate across the room and, without wishing to trivialise something quite beautiful, you can imagine The Orb wrapping some wonderful ambient cloth about the track.
The soulful guitar playing of Hector Tellez Jnr. Adds a different sound to Icaro De A La Vibracion, while those seeking one of the album’s most beautiful piece need look no further than the echoing bells of Icaro Para Susto Y Miedo, which seems to quiver in the air somewhere just in front of the speaker. It’s interesting that we so often think of music as something that can transport the listener and, with the lights dimmed low, and the sound of the Amazon pouring from the speakers, you can truly feel yourself drawn far from the noise and chaos of modernity, making this album something of a gift from the Shamans to the wider world.
And so the album progresses, haunting and engaging in equal measure. What could be, in the wrong hands, somewhat repetitive, is elevated by the deft additions of producer Barrett Martin. Eminently respectful, he uses his not inconsiderably skills to bring out the hidden beauty of the pieces, while carefully protecting the human element that lies within. His care can be seen in tracks like Icaro De Limpieza Para Fluir, which features Dave Catching. Part hypnotic QOTSA soundscape, part traditional Icaro, it is elevated to something unique – only found on this album and in this incarnation – and it has a profound impact on those prepared to open their hearts to it.
Indeed, the more you listen, the more you realise it is an album of contrasts. With tracks such as the magical Icaro Para Bloquear Energias Negativas (which, under Barret’s guiding hand, becomes an ambient piece that recalls Sigur Ros); the taut rhythms of Icaro Para Invocar Alma Cuerpo Y Espiritu; and the experimental jazz of Icaro De Limpieza A La Glandula Pineal (which finds Matt Cameron showcasing a very different set of dynamics), there is a remarkable diversity to the record, and it says much of the immense sympathy the performers share that they were able to collaborate on something so unique.
Regular readers of SonicAbuse will know that we tend to delight in the unexpected – and Woven Songs Of The Amazon III is all of that. That is not to say this album will be for everyone. It is a unique record that gathers raw performances from the heart of the Amazon and sets them to backings that draw from ambient, jazz, and post-rock to create something truly mesmerising. Haunting and beautiful, it is otherworldly, which may be exactly the sticking point for some. However, for those who do wish to step outside of the Western paradigm, it is a gem – intimate and honest – and it not only connects diverse musical influences, but it also brings the rarely heard sounds of the Shipibo Shamans vividly to life. Essential for those who attended Barrett’s tour last year, and enthralling to musical explorers, it is the most original album we have yet encountered at SonicAbuse. 9/10
