Quantic And His Combo Bárbaro - Traditions in Transition
(CD/LP) Tru Thoughts TRUCD/LP190, 2009-07-06

Tracklisting :
01. The Dreaming Mind Part 1
02. Mas Pan
03. Linda Morena
04. Undelivered Letter
05. Un Canto A Ma Tierra
06. Mambo Los Qauntic
07. Albela
08. New Morning
09. I Just Fell In Love Again
10. Cancao Do Deserto
11. Arianita
12. The Dreaming Mind Part 2

Links :
Buy it soon on etchshop.co.uk
quantic.org
myspace.com/quanticmusic
tru-thoughts.co.uk/artists/quantic-and-his-combo-barbaro
http://www.parisdjs.com/index.php/tag/Quantic
elmondongo.blogspot.com



Press Release :
On the crest of a burgeoning worldwide wave of interest in the lesser-tapped sources of music from the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa, Quantic and his new band, the Combo Bárbaro, are leading the charge. The stunning album, 'Tradition In Transition' (out on Tru Thoughts in July), and upcoming live tour of selected spots in Europe and America throughout August and September, will see this international cast of acclaimed musical creators fusing those rediscovered psychedelic, experimental and rhythmically rich sounds of the past with deep funk and soul elements, giving life to an explosive sonic snapshot of the eclectic and ever-evolving musical landscape of the Americas.

In 2007 Will 'Quantic' Holland moved to Cali, Colombia's third largest city, to pursue his passion for both unearthing lost treasures from Colombia's musical past and making new music with the golden array of talent available today. As a travelling music maker/DJ, continually searching for unconventional destinations to both find and showcase his music, Holland found it to be a rewarding move, and Colombia was to prove a perfect home-base to fuel his remarkably prolific creativity.

Since he settled in Cali, Holland has set up an analogue studio and recorded and released two albums (2007's highly lauded 'Tropidelico' by The Quantic Soul Orchestra; and the debut from his tropical-dub side project Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno, in 2008) featuring some of the cream of Cali musicianship. Upon realising the potency and sheer depth of quality present in these players, Holland assembled his Combo Bárbaro (literally translating as 'group of barbarians or people from outside Europe') to take up the baton from The Quantic Soul Orchestra in the realisation of the next phase of his musical vision.

The stellar array of musicians at the core of the Combo Bárbaro are: pianist Alfredo Linares, who wowed the sell-out crowds with his virtuoso performances on The Quantic Soul Orchestra's 2008 tour; Freddy Colorado, the energetic, charismatic cornerstone of the Cali music circuit, on congas; Fernando Silva on baby bass; William Holland himself on electric guitar; and London-based drummer and long time Quantic collaborator Malcolm Catto, also well known for his own band The Heliocentrics, in fine form.

'Tradition In Transition' also benefits incalculably from the talents of veteran Brazilian writer, arranger and musical innovator Arthur Verocai, who scored and directed a 12 piece string section on several themes. Legendary Panamanian soul singer Kabir lends his rich vocal tones to two tracks; Indian-born singer Falu, now based in the USA, brings her beguiling mix of North Indian Classical and rock-influenced vocal styles; and Pacific folklore singer and award-winning songwriter Nidia Góngora contributes her beautiful song "Un Canto A Mi Tierra".

In crafting the sound of Quantic and his Combo Bárbaro, Holland felt it was imperative to have the core stable of musicians in the same room, creating an organic dialogue between them – a simple rule which, in an age of drum machines, samples and voice correction, is all too often overlooked. People will be instinctively drawn time and again to revisit the music made in this traditional, substantial way, undoubtedly because strange, unexpected things take place, musicians improvise and exciting musical statements are made, and this was the environment needed for the recording of 'Tradition In Transition'.

The result is a multi-cultural patchwork – a record bathed but not exclusively rooted in Colombian musical culture, embracing the musical range of all the American continent – honouring and utilising its contributors' individual backgrounds while conjuring up a unique brand of contemporary music that is a joy and a celebration to listen to, and a live experience that defies comparison.


Tradition in Transition: A Postcard from Cali (TRAILER) from Quantic

Quantic biography :
Jazz sensibility with future dance floor orientated grooves, deep funk and tough drums.

Will Holland is one of the most talented and prolific artists in the world of alternative dance music today. Recording under various guises, Will first found acclaim as Quantic. As well as Quantic and the Quantic Soul Orchestra Will is one half of The Limp Twins, a duo he formed with Russ Porter. Initially a deejay partnership, it wasn't long before they started recording, with Russ taking on the vocal duties and Will adding the magic with his savvy production.

He has enjoyed consistent success with his Quantic moniker, releasing his first album, 'The 5th Exotic' in the summer of 2001. It was picked up on by some of the most respected names in underground music. Richard Dorfmiester, Mr Scruff and LTJ Bukem all rated it very highly, not surprising when tunes like "Common Knowledge" and the near classic "Life in the Rain" had blazed across dance floors all over Europe. With elements of Jazz, Funk and Afro blended with tight breaks and Will's distinctive production, 'The 5th Exotic' proved irresistible and won him many plaudits.

He built on this acclaim with the release of 'Apricot Morning' less than a year later, dispelling any talk of "the difficult second album". His sound seemed to expand in every direction on 'Apricot Morning' and he became the first Tru Thoughts artist to collaborate with Alice Russell as well as recording with MC EQ and Bristol's freshest hip hop crew, Aspects. 'Apricot Morning' is a perfect snapshot of everything happening at the jazzier end of underground music in 2002, as proved by Gilles Peterson who ranked it amongst his albums of the year.

The release of the album 'Mishaps Happening' in 2004 saw Quantic continuing to work with Alice Russell as well as recording two tracks with the legendary Spanky Wilson (with whom he went on to collaborate on a tour and an electrifying album for his Quantic Soul Orchestra…but that's another story).

Quantic released a two-disc 'One Offs, Remixes and B Sides' album in 2005, which featured a collaboration with Mr Scruff and remixes by Pilooski and Seiji; and his fifth long player, 'An Announcement To Answer' followed in 2006, cementing his reputation as a 21st Century Quincy Jones.

Quantic regularly DJs across the world (and we mean the World not just America, Europe and Japan) spreading the unique Quantic sound with each set. His music has been featured on countless compilations and appeared in TV soundtracks, and as ever he has a busy schedule of remixes from respected labels across the board. In 2007 he relocated to Colombia, where he has had a studio built and is continuing to create exciting music at a characteristically prolific rate, taking inspiration from the heady mix of rhythms and sounds on his doorstep.

2008 saw a new project come to life, under the moniker Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno, a summery dub and reggae-inspired affair with an authentic tropical vibe. The album, 'Death Of The Revolution' came out in July 2008 and features Will Holland on various instruments with contributions from a host of Latin American musicians, including the legendary Peruvian pianist Alfredo Linares. This album pricked up the ears of many tastemakers and fans alike, including Gilles Peterson and Mark Lamarr (BBC Radio 2), who have been excited and curious about the new progression in Quantic's music - and impressed that it sounds as stunning and original as any Quantic album to date.

The big story for 2009 is Quantic and his Combo Bárbaro, a handpicked band of internationally renowned musicians set to take over from The Quantic Soul Orchestra in realising the next stage of Holland's musical vision.