Rather excitingly, we’ve just received the news that psych/synth explorers Sun Araw and M. Geddes Gengras have collaborated with legendary dub reggae band The Congos. The collaborative album will be released as the latest in RVNG’s FRKWYS series, which pairs current artists with their predecessors/inspirations.
You can listen to a track from the album, which is titled Icon Give Thank here:
For the recording, The Congos reunited in their original form, and Sun Araw (aka Cameron Stallones) and Gengras headed out to St. Catherine, Jamaica for 10 days. Says the album’s advance info: " The gates opened wide and warmly, the musicians and filmmakers ate, slept, and smoked at The Congos headquarters, their mural-emblazoned studio, home, and spiritual compound. An environment steeped in the Ital lifestyle. Rastafarian reflection and meditation, and a rich community bubbling with musical energy, both young and old artist would learn an unspoken creative language."
A very hazy ten days, then, but if it gives rise to songs like the one above then that’s just fine by us. Rather than being strictly a dub reggae album, Icon Give Thank found duties split between artists, with Stallones and Gengras making the backing music while the four Congos contributed vocals and four-part harmonies.
A film, Icon Eye, which documents the collaboration, will also be released at the same time: "Through the diaristic yet cinematic lens of handheld HD cameras, secret moments from the studio, fishing villages, late night dances, abandoned hotels and The Congos’ yard are blended into a strange tapestry. Musicians, computers, children, and food reveal mystical resonance."
You can watch the trailer for the film here:
ICON EYE (teaser) from RVNG Intl. on Vimeo.
Icon Give Thank and Icon Eye are both released on April 9th.
