Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - War/Mercury
(limited edition 10 inch) Hypnotic Brass Ensemble HBE-002, 2007-03-15

Tracklisting :
A1. War
B1. Mercury

Links :
hypnoticbrass.blogspot.com
myspace.com/hypnoticbusiness
Watch "War" on YouTube

Press Release :
THE SONGS ON THIS RECORD ARE A PAIR OF FIGHT SONGS

"War" is pure battle sound from beginning to end; it draws your blood and attunes you to the conflict you face. Any master fighter can tell you the realest war is not the one flashing on your television or the one sparking in these streets; it's the one waged within. We dedicate this song to all our gutter people in the world that they be spiritually uplifted and psychologically prepared for the struggles that surround them.

The tones in "Mercury" are based on an ancient Chinese weather tactic whereby an emperor, having assembled his troops for battle, would call on a priest or shaman to send rainstorms over a rival's army. But while that idea illustrates the scope of military theater, the song's solos represent the ritual of warfare from the perspective of a faceless soldier thousands of years ago; the preparation for battle, the drama of the battle itself and finally, the joy and elation a man feels when he's won the battle and rejoins his family in the village.

Limited to just 500 copies, so rush to it!

Reviews :
A second sublime single from the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble -- and even better than their first! "War" is a fiercely funky little tune -- a track that states its bold theme at the beginning, then fills the grooves with tight drums, rolling conga lines, and a majestic quality that's way different than typical deep funk -- and which gives the track the righteousness of some lost 70s soul jazz number! The horn-heavy approach continues on "Mercury" -- which is a more slow-building tune that sparkles with joyous energy and a deeply spiritual sound. There's almost a Sun Ra-like quality to the track -- but the great side of Sun Ra, the more inside and soulful one!
(DustyGroove.com)