Search - African Head Charge :: Environmental Studies

Terrific music

Allan MacInnis | Vancouver | 10/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"AHC are the culmination of various influences and interests -- there's Jamaican dub and African pop filtering through their music, a taste of underground club music, an awareness of the rhythms and beats of music from all over the world, and an overarching love of abstract electronica and massive studio sound manipulation... There's also a lasting influence of Eno and Byrne's MY LIFE IN THE BUSH OF GHOSTS (that gets more subtle on this disc, as opposed to MY LIFE IN A HOLE IN THE GROUND, their previous release, where it was a bit too-too present). With all these influences, AHC's uniqueness gets a little lost; they're sort of a more-postmodern-than-thou experimental band, but may just not be experimental enough for the people who should be loving them. They certainly don't seem to be getting recognition on Amazon. This strikes me as a HUGE oversight on the part of consumers in the west, and I urge you all to buy at least THREE African Head Charge releases. This one is more abstract and experimental than MY LIFE IN A HOLE IN THE GROUND; the song structures are looser, with more room for exploration and gaminess on the part of wunderkind Sherwood. It's one of my favorites of theirs. Despite their diverse influences, I'd be hard-pressed to find another band that sounded quite like these guys. Neglect it at your loss..."

Do you know what you're missing?

Allan MacInnis | 05/31/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...AHC is sorely neglected. it seems like they pop up in strange places (in the movie "wild at heart" though not on the soundtrack) and then are forgotten again. they're tough to classify, which is almost always a good sign for the music and a bad sign for marketing it.
AHC exist on a fairly unique plane, being both relaxing and challenging, warm and detached at the same time - like a stranger doing you a huge favor without ever letting you thank him.
well, to listen (really listen) to them is to love them so i recommend any of the first few albums ("environmental studies" is actually their 2nd, and probably best, album originally from 1982) or the 1991 "songs of praise"."