Melvin Gibbs' Elevated Entity

Ancients Speak
(LiveWired Music : 2009)

78C

Posted on 03/31/2009

Ancients Speak, the new album by Melvin Gibbs’ Elevated Entity is, for the most part, a musical offering to the Yoruba spirit world through the vessel of music. A heavy and ambitious task. But I must admit, though incongruent at times, Gibb’s does a pretty good job at creating a musically groovy, and spiritually channeling project.

The strength of this album lies more in the sounds of the past than the present. The conga drum, the chanting, and the spacious, windy sounds. A prime example of this is on my favorite track, “Sun of Shango.” The song isn’t overwhelmed with sound. Just a bass, a drum track, conga, and a droning sound that sits behind what could best be described as a prayerful voice. About halfway through the song, a roaring electric guitar solo, wily and sincere, comes ripping through, almost calling out to the ancients in which Gibbs’ crew speak of.

But the weak points of this project, unfortunately, all revolve around the influence of hip-hop. Though hip-hop is everywhere now, people like Gibbs have to understand that it doesn’t belong everywhere. Nothing does. So to take an album that potentially could’ve been a really incredible project, and force hip-hop, the square, into such a circular hole is dangerous, and ultimately unnecessary. This is seen best on “Summer Breeze,” and “Sometimes.” These songs aren’t bad songs, just inconsistent with the tone of the project, therefore weakening it slightly.

Ancients Speak is interesting in the sense that it’s quite a beautiful celebration of the Yoruba tradition through music. Its airiness along with its contemporary take on a tribal sound surely evokes an ancient presence. And even with the arbitrary hip-hop tracks, Ancients Speak is worth a listen, and Melvin Gibbs’ Elevated Entity have much to be proud of.

- Jason Reynolds 03/31/09 >> go there

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