Customer Reviews

Ancoats 2 Zambia

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of the first things to know about the Baby Namboos is that writer/programmer Mike Porter is the cousin of British hip-hopper Tricky. And it was Tricky who encouraged his cousin to create this band, along with some pals. Well, I feel indebted to Tricky for that action.

Their only album, "Ancoats 2 Zambia," is an underrated piece of trip-hop, flavoured with reggae and rap. It's dark, moody, but with its moments of oddness and humor. "I am Tony Guest, I live in Manchester. I go to Bristol now and again to see the skinheads... Oh stop laughin' now," says guest Tony Guest on the intro, as an unseen audience laughs at strange moments.

But things take a less playful turn almost instantly. Singer/designer Aurora Borealis sings the anguished ballad "Hard Times," in a soft, cracked voice that sounds like she's about to cry. Then the Baby Namboos swerve into tribal hip-hop, gothic electrorap, and mournful ballads.

The rest of the album speed by in a blur of mournful singing, trippy soundscapes, and gritty rap over some very heavy beats. Sometimes, as in "Trials and Tribulations," you have both at the same time, with bizarre electronic effects over a subdued rap. And it finally ends with two remixes of the title track: the rappier "Geoff Barrow Remix," and the trippier, more explosive "Dillinja Remix."

The Baby Namboos have been unjustly painted as a Tricky side project. And this Manchester band admittedly does have some intense musical similarities to Tricky's work. But, since Porter ejected his cousin from the studio after a couple of days, the Baby Namboos retain a flavour that is uniquely their own.

Their brand of trip-hop is completely unlike the icier sounds of Massive Attack and similar bands. The Baby Namboos are earthier and more soulful. Above the basic beats, clattersdrums and so on, there's a lot of strong electronica that keeps the album from descending into raw depths. It's tough stuff, and it takes a few listens to really absorb.

A bunch of male vocalists do the rapping exceptionally well, rough and a little playful, laughing in delight as they play their instruments. Aurora Borealis has a voice that recalls the cracked alto of Marianne Faithfull, but it sounds rather weak at times. Similarly, her songs tend to be weaker as well: endless repeats of "Your inner scream haunts me/Your tantalizing taunts me," makes up half of one song. The rap songs tend to be much better: "So if you're offered free new tricks/Accept it with open arms/'Cause there ain't no four leaf clovers/Or no gypsy lucky charms

It's a shame that "Ancoats 2 Zambia" (partly named after a phone book entry, partly after a part of Manchester) sank down with many of the less worthy trip bands of that era. Dark, brooding, and rough around the edges.

By the time this was released in 1999, both the music press and audience had mostly given up on the trip-hop genre that had provided countless watered down imitations of the original greats. I am guessing that is why no one payed attention to the idea of Tricky's relatives / friends forming a band and releasing a trip-hop album.
What a mistake; This album is a classic. Alternately fun and spooky, this is musical voodoo at its best. The production is top notch, with deep bass lines, snapping beats, and creative keyboard work laying the foundation for the cast of vocalists. Parts of the album have a very loose, jam session feel, and this adds to the odd and enigmatic mood created. From the rolling go-go of "Get Your Head Down" to the haunting "Holy", there is plenty to enjoy here.
Do yourself a favor and check this one out.
Recommended listening - loud, and late at night.

I think this is on par with just about anything Ticky's done. It's also different enough to stand on it's own. Dark and trippy, it still has a lot of great straight-forward instrumentation, such as stand-up bass.

Maybe it's just my imagination, but it sounds like there are these strange ghost voices that appear throughout the CD, and I imagine they come to the forefront on the last song "Play With Me" which is about using a ouija board. Another great song is "Holy" in which the singing character, a prostitute, stands up against the religious types who would judge her. The vocals are excellent, all the songs are good, and I will be listening to this one for a long time.

This album is another excellent showing from Bristol. Tricky's cousins and friends get together and make an album of widely varying tracks. It really reminds me of Massive Attack's Blue Lines. It's got a great experimental feel. Ranges from jungle to dub to soul to hip hop much like the best stuff from Bristol. Willy Wee, a member of the Wild Bunch (along with the pre-Massive Attack members, Tricky, and Nellee Hooper) who rapped the first verse on "Five Man Army" on Blue Lines, appears on two tracks. Best track is "Late Night Antics." Watch out for female vocalist Aurora Borealis, she's got a unique voice but her lyrics are weak. She's the only drawback.

The first release on Tricky's Durban Poison label, this album from English collective The Baby Namboos expands the boundaries of trip-hop (a genre which has become rather tired lately), presenting interesting pop songs, soulful melodies and just enough rap and reggae to keep you interested. This album actually suprised me with its quality, especially considering the poor caliber of Tricky's last album. The actual music on Ancoats2zambia is actually more reminiscent of groups like Massive Attack (who've long been innovators in the trip-hop genre) than Tricky, although his influence is evident. Comparisons aside, this album is pretty tight. Tracks like "Get Your Head Down", "Late Night Antics" and the title track are funky and have a slight reggae influence, whereas tracks like "Holy" and "Hard Times" are much more soulful. These more soulful tracks feature wonderful vocals by Auroraborealis, who sounds very similar to the various female singers Tricky (who does make a guest appearance on a few tracks) has used over the years. Her contribution provides part of the same sort of juxtaposition between sung female vocals and harsher raps that Tricky has thrived off of using for his entire career. As a bonus, this disc includes two excellent remixes of the title track, one by Portishead's Geoff Barrow and the other by Dillinja (whose origin I'm unsure about). Although this album is quite good and an impressive debut, I wouldn't quite rank it up there with the output of trip-hop innovators like Portishead and Massive Attack.

So, the Baby Namboos' first album, Ancoats2Zambia appears on Tricky's Durban Poison label and has Tricky put in a guest appearance. If you said that they were simply Tricky-lite, that'd only be half true. Sure, there's the same paranoid trip-hop feeling (reminiscent of Maxinquaye and Pre-Millennium Tension), the wounded little girl delivery by Aurora Borealis (reminiscent of Martina Topley-Bird's vocals), and the harshly-whispered rhyme (reminiscent of Tricky himself). But there's a little more levity here than on Tricky's work, and that's what separates them. Listen to the near hopefulness in the music on "Provoked." There's some nice break action on "Trials and Tribulations." While Ancoats2Zambia deserves a listen (especially for the Geoff Barrow and Dillinja remixes), there's nothing here that hasn't been done better by Tricky or Terranova.

This is probably the true follow-up to Maxinquaye or Blue lines. Good dark beats and tricky like vocals, he even makes an experience on some songs. It even has a dillinja song on it.

Tricky's first labelmate on his Own Durban Poison offers more of a "Tricky" sound than his last album! Beautiful singing, dark beats, gritty raps by Tricky. Great stuff

If you are looking for trip hop but also something great and refreshing, then the baby namboos are definitely for you. For me it is as great as Blue Lines from Massive Attack. We are definitely dealing with high level here. Buy it!

If you liked Tricky's debut, Maxinquaye, but were disappointed with later efforts, you will probably love this album. Let's be clear about one thing: this is not a Tricky album in disguise like his Nearly God project. He signed the band to his Durban Poison label and his vocals can be heard on a few tracks, but his contributions can almost go by unnoticed among the great sounds to be found on this disc.

After the first listen, I didn't care for the vocals of female singer, Zoe Bedeaux who has an edge to her vocals that reminds me of later Marianne Faithful, but after warming up to them, I found I couldn't play this album enough. There are also 2 or 3 male vocalists including Leo Coleing and Tricky. The whole affair ends up with a sound that reminds me of a grittier, rawer Massive Attack. Definately something you might expect out of Bristol (home to Tricky, Massive Attack, Portishead, etc.) but very unique at the same time. Standout tracks include "Trials and Tribulations", "Holy" and the title track, but the whole album is solid and leaves you wanting more every time.