A primal, evocative, soul-stirring release combining Native American powpow chanting and with ambient electronica dulcimer strings and gentle drums by singer-songwriter Joe Rainey, drummer and producer S Carey, and indigenous singer Dylan Bizhikiins Jennings. The group name, Bizhiki is taken from Jennings’ childhood nickname, meaning “little buffalo”. The arrangements make for a transportative listen of ancient an modern, sometimes moving into the English language on environmental laments She’s All We Have and Nashke!, but are far more powerful in their original tongue or with non-verbal language, full-throated and freeform, such as on opener Franklin Warrior with its gradual build and elongated vocalisations or on SCG accompanied by indistinct thumps and background sounds. The title track begins with muffled drum sounds and electronica, drawing us in with a mix of English and powpow, She’s All We Have combines gentle piano with chants, while Rez News mixes similar vocals and piano with added echoey primal beats and woodwind. Gigawabaamin (Come Through) creates a more ethereal ambient soundscape and twists the vocals through effects, which perhaps isn’t necessary rather than a more authentic sound. Overall though, and fabulous fusion of eras, textures and arrangement. Out on Jagjaguwar.
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