Recording: Mas Aya

Artist: Mas Aya (feat. Lido Pimienta and Alexandra Mackenzie)

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), January 10, 2013.

Mas Aya - unknown

Full review to follow. So, to recap: the solo songs that Brandon Valdivia had begun over a year ago has mostly been shifted over to his duo Pachamama, while this new solo incarnation is focused a bit less on "songs" and more on sonic constructions. Celebrating the release of a new tape, Valdivia actually played even newer compositions, mostly involving percussion (from a drumpad as well as looped from the kit) alongside flute and melodica.

This selection, where he was joined by Lido Pimienta and Alexandra Mackenzie, is actually a bit unrepresentative of that direction, but it does capture the fourth world spirit in the music, collapsing the dualities of north and south, synthesized and organic. And even without lyrics, you didn't need to see Valdivia's homemade IDLE NO MORE shirt to know that these were liberation songs.

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!