There are mysteries and there are mysteries. There is also madness and Heraclite’s self titled album seems like a mysterious madness inspired directly, as it is, by the words of ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus. My Greek language skills don’t reach much further than ordering beer so I am more than happy to take the band’s word when they say that all the words are in their original language.
This is the 21st century, however, so does such an anachronistic source of inspiration have any relevance to the music of today? Judging from this album, it just might. Imagine, if you will, some jazz musicians taking it upon themselves to compose deranged late night dance music that evokes more primitive times and you see that this album begins to make sense. Rhythms this solid meld with those deep – if to these ears incomprehensible – lyrics and conventionality gets bypassed in the vocals too with a positively eclectic approach much to the fore even stretching to the quasi aboriginal in “Akea”.
The important thing though is that this album works. It is left of centre (but that’s a good thing) and I hope that it gets appreciated outside of the art house circles where it will no doubt find its initial resting place
Album available for Bandcamp.