Primitive Guide to Being There (W/Dvd)

Jhelisa | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 24, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Infracom
• ASIN: B000IFRQ0O
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #435,991 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Freedom's Land

2. Flute Band in Gauteng

3. Culture of Silence, Pt. 1

4. Culture of Silence, Pt. 2

5. Journey of Life (In Nine Minutes)

6. Love Is a State of Mind

7. Walking on Air

8. Far I Have Come, Far I Must Go

9. Survivin' (in the Key of E flat)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Travelling, rebirth and the resilience of the human spirit..., July 2, 2006

By 

mondo (LA, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Primitive Guide to Being Their (Audio CD)

"A Primitive Guide To 'Being There'" is an album that bubbles with restlessness even if it is sometimes restrained. This affair is not just a downtempo one as "live" instruments really play a full part in most of the mix. The album opener "Freedom's Land" immediately reveals her stance and it's no coincidence that a Civil Rights song would be at it's core. Other numbers shift tempos and unfold within their duration. The slow bass swagger of "Culture of Silence" may hint at complacency but ultimately explodes in a vocal cry for resolution in double time tempo hinting at brokenbeat rhythms. "Far I Have Come" is a majestic proclamation of life which brings to mind acceptance, peace and African sunsets through meditative percussion. Throughout this LP there are nods to House music, Eastern music, Hip Hop, Electronica, Brazilian Batucada, Blues and Folk all topped off with vocal arrangements which blanket the listener in sound. It may sound overindulgent but it's crafted very well in her hands. This rootlessness is what makes each Jhelisa long player so unique. Travelling and utilizing all resources, she's a conduit for genres and cultures she's experienced. While the album is nine tracks long don't let that put you off. There is plenty of substance in the arrangements and her "harmonic designs" to occupy with repeated listens.
NOTE: A limited edition DVD is featured depicting the making of the album, originally titled "The Discovery of Amazing", up to the time they had to evacuate New Orleans. It's a nice companion piece to the album showing collaboration with local musicians and a little bit of New Orleans culture. While evacuating some of the source material for the album was lost thus resulting in a renamed album.

4.0 out of 5 stars Jhelisa - A Primitive Guide To Being There, March 10, 2011

By 

scoundrel - See all my reviews

This review is from: Primitive Guide to Being Their (Audio CD)

After a long absence, Jhelisa finally returns with A PRIMITIVE GUIDE TO BEING THERE. And while this album doesn't reach the heights that LANGUAGE ELECTRIC achieved, it's still quite an accomplishment. The gospel stomper, "Freedom's Land," quickly morphs into a more thoughtful and melancholy track, while maintaining the percussive movement. "Flute Band in Gauteng" has a Spanish flavor to it -- interesting, considering that Gauteng is in South Africa. Certainly, Jhelisa has returned to her acid jazz roots, prefering freeform compositions to accompany her sultry vocals, but she doesn't limit herself. "Journey of Life (In Nine Minutes)" integrates some South Asian percussion, while "Love is a State of Mind" goes for some sophisticated funk that should put some neo-soulstresses to shame. And "Far I Have Come, Far I Must Go" has the power of an old spiritual. Indeed, she can switch styles within the same song: "Survivin' (in the Key of E-Flat)" goes from a minimal vocals-and-bass dirge into a spry vocal workout. If anything, this album proves (despite its title) that Jhelisa is anything but primitive.