![\"\"](\"http:\/\/ndsuspectrum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/47347827982_618eafa075_b.jpg\")
Los Angeles\u2013based Sudan Archives is a goddess of avant-garde violin in a debut full\u2013length “Athena” under Stones Throw Records. Blending R&B, North African fiddle, West African beats and electronic elements Sudan create a sound that is all\u2013at\u2013once ethereal, sensual and in\u2013your\u2013face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The discovery of ethnomusicology was an important formative experience for her music. Francis Bebey, a Cameroonian electronic musician was a heavy inspiration in her early stages of exploration in the world of ethnomusicology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In her Bandcamp biography for “Athena”, Sudan described Bebey’s music, “His music is so simple, and the way he combines strings and electronic music is such a vibe.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 14 tracks that make up “Athena” were selected from over 60 songs recorded in the studio, according to the Sudan Archives’ Bandcamp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Down On Me’<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ripples of plucked strings enter a mist of harmonious violin before Sudan Archive’s voice, sweet and sultry, begins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This song is the feeling of silk sheets in a luxury Lake Shore Drive penthouse, that is how sensual this song is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Listen to the track for yourself, if you don’t believe me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Iceland Moss’<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Iceland Moss” is much like the plant for which the song is named, tougher than it looks. The lyrics echo this imagery as the verses are powerful and self-confident, while the chorus is quiet and subdued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I don’t need your helping hand, no. I’m tired of this silly dance…Don’t get it twisted, this is where I stand” Sudan asserts, as a twinkling electronic background lays the foundation. Her conviction is compounded by strong violin strokes at the end of each line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In contrast, the chorus remains instrumentally sparse. The quiet hum of harmonizing violin and an electronic beat like a leaky faucet are all that stand between silence and Sudan’s voice as she coos, “you think I’m soft, like Iceland moss. All over me, like harmonies.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the most delicate and chilled break-up songs you’ll likely hear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Glorious’<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beautiful North African fiddle influences are front\u2013and\u2013center in the album’s second single. With bass drops, tambourine and a rap break this song blend multiple genres into a masterpiece about financial woes and the racial wage gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A song about wanting to give back to your parents who gave you so much, while financially struggling yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I can’t wait to get my mom a place. Pay her debt, she could quit today. Hit the max on my card today. Pay it back, as soon as I can pay.” <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ethereal, avant-garde violinist’s powerful debut full-length Los Angeles\u2013based Sudan Archives is a goddess of avant-garde violin in a debut full\u2013length “Athena” under Stones Throw Records. “Review: Sudan Archives’ ‘Athena’”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1078,"featured_media":87391,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[69,4326],"tags":[],"author_slug":"lbrandjord","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndsuspectrum.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87245"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndsuspectrum.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndsuspectrum.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndsuspectrum.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1078"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndsuspectrum.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87245"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ndsuspectrum.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87245\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87532,"href":"https:\/\/ndsuspectrum.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87245\/revisions\/87532"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndsuspectrum.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/87391"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndsuspectrum.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87245"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndsuspectrum.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87245"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndsuspectrum.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87245"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}