Here With Us is a standout world beat album with cynical California sensibility.
author: Music and Sound 2000
Music & Sound 2000
"The sophomore CD from Davis' !Akimbo, Here With Us, fuses African and Jamaican rhythms, rock guitar, and sometimes brooding lyrics to create a unique listening experience. With eight members, Akimbo captures a big sound without seeming cluttered - a phenomenon that often happens when a large band goes in to record. Famous for their spirited live performances, nothing here gets lost in the studio translation. Inside the cover is a great live shot of the band at the 1998 Whole Earth Festival in Davis. This photograph is a testament to what you'll hear on this disc - a taste of a communal, greater love society.
The infectious grooves of "Sunday Song" and "E Maa Yo" will have you dancing around your living room while the lyrics in "A Wish" ("I'm falling down, the deep so blue...") will send you to a decidedly darker place. Catherine LeBlanc's strong lead vocals on this track are especially exceptional, reminiscent of Natalie Merchant. Often the band mixes their upbeat music with searching lyrics that question the motives of human nature. The result is an interesting contrast, similar to eating salt with chocolate. Here With Us is a standout world beat album with cynical California sensibility." Pauline Hess
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Akimbo prove they can handle intricate rhythms that move the body as well as wri
author: Steve Milney, KXJZ, Sacramento,CA
"Akimbo, the Sacramento area's premier world music band, just keeps getting better and better. Three years after their debut album, the group is now much tighter and more confident. Here with Us, their newly released second CD, draws upon a broad palette of influences including Afro-beat, soukous, reggae and salsa. But at the core of all their global beats and international flavors is good pop songwriting and arranging. from the exciting, Fela Kuti-like vibe of Numbers to the soca sounds of No Guarantee and chimurenga guitar lines on E Maa Yo, Akimbo prove they can handle intricate rhythms that move the body as well as write attractive melodies that inspire us to sing ."
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The playing, production and singing on this disc are top notch.
author: Alive and Kicking, CA
" !AKIMBO describe themselves as Western Pop combined with the world's best dance grooves. Well I ain't gonnna argue with that. Pop the CD in your player and instantly you're hit with "Imagine This" , a catchy, rhythmic kickoff to one great number after another. The playing, production and singing on this disc are top notch. If I may make the most accessible comparison...think Paul Simon's GRACELAND in terms of feel. But !AKIMBO really does draw influences from all over the globe. They truly are "World" beat. Good Stuff."
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