The mysterious afro-soul of The Shaolin Afronauts first echoed across
the dance floors of Australia in early 2008, captivating audiences with a
highly evolved and unique approach to avant-garde soul music matched
with an improvisational pedigree that immediately setthem apart from
their peers. In the almost fifteen years since the ensemble's debut they
have released three albums on Freestyle Records and toured across
Australia and around the world.
After an extended hiatus punctuated by rare live performances, The Shaolin Afronauts return with The Fundamental Nature of Being, an epic five album release that expands the sonic vision of the ensemble to towering new heights of burning afro-funk alongside esoteric and ethereal new sonic excursions. This expanded musical journey further explores the wide spectrum of the band's musical identity – with each of the five parts designed as both standalone records, while also offering a singular listening journey across the band's expansive musical world.
The 5-part project was recorded over just five days, drawing upon the band's rich influence of 1970s West and South African music, jazz, psych-rock & soul, while also exploring the transatlantic sonic intersection between the 1960s electronic avant-garde & spiritual jazz. Free and partially directed improvisation is employed as a central component of the compositions, with the musical works acting as frameworks for the collective musical enterprise that has developed over the ensemble's near fifteen years together.
The vast project is available as a strictly limited 5 LP box-set, with a deluxe booklet of extended liner notes, due for release September 16th 2022. Each individual album also being made available for singular purchase, and on CD & digital formats, over the month following.
The Fundamental Nature of Being firmly re-establishes Shaolin Afronauts as one of the most interesting and innovative collectives of creative improvising musicians operating in the world today.
Part One:
1. Broken Flowers
2. Abyssinian Suite, Pt. 4
3. Dust
4. Valley of the Crucible
5. Shakedown
6. Way of the Long Death
7. Rumba Cyclique
8. Sands of Time
Part Two:
1. The Simien Fox
2. High Noises
3. Bebe & Lorraine
4. Inside The Flame Burns Brightly Still
5. Salt Flat Muscle
6. Recollection
7. Sugar John
8. Hall Of Bright Carvings
Part Three:
1. Morning Song
2. Sun Spiral
3. Inner Working Outer Being, Pt. 1
4. Inner Working Outer Being, Pt. 2
5. Inner Working Outer Being, Pt. 3
Part Four:
1. The Fundamental Nature Of Being, Pt. 1
2. The Fundamental Nature Of Being, Pt. 2
3. The Fundamental Nature Of Being, Pt. 3
4. The Fundamental Nature Of Being, Pt. 4
Part Five:
1. Reflections 1
2. Reflections 2
3. Reflections 3
4. Reflections 4
