SHABAKA & THE ANCESTORS Vinyl & CDs

Review: One of this year's Mercury Prize nominees, Wisdom Of Elders sees London saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings hitting a new ambitious high as he recorded the whole body of work with a troupe of South African musicians led by Mandla Mlangeni in one single day. Aptly described as afro-futurism, the collective melt down nuances of jazz, psychedelia and traditional South African music to paint a unique picture that's delightfully frenzied yet soulfully smooth all at once. From the big Rhodes washes and vocal textures of "The Observer" to the dramatic percussive tumbles and lonely trumpet of "The Observed" by way of epic multi-suite adventures such as "The Sea" and the incendiary opener "Mzwandile", Wisdom Of Elders lives up to its name with a spirit that's at once both future and timeless.