Gonjasufi – The Caliph’s Tea Party review

Not content with releasing one of this year’s most captivating albums in A Sufi & A Killer, Warp enlist a veritable trove of production deities to add some new weight to the distinctive vocals of LA yoga teacher turned mystical sonic wizard Gonjasufi. Amidst a sea of praise and applause for Gonjasufi’s debut album, the only real complaint was a sense of unease at Gaslamp Killer’s production credits for a wholesale plundering of samples and breaks. A problem which is more or less remedied on The Caliph’s Tea Party – furthermore there are some truly stunning reinterpretations within. Commencing with the ambient Morricone hues of Mark Pritchard’s “Ancestors” remix, what really impresses is Warp’s decision to call in rising production talent like Dam Mantle and Dem Hunger. Indeed it’s the former who excels on a remix of “Ageing” that dices up the vocals over pulsing bass led half step stutter that burst with soul when the organ riffs drop. Elsewhere Bear In Heaven go all Axelrod on the ripping remix of Love of Reign and Oneohtrix Point Never delivers the highlight with a stunningly beautiful rendition of “She’s Gone”.

Tony Poland