Artem Bemba has been releasing his own form of minimalist/ambient/kosmische music on his own bandcamp page since 2014, and recently for Southern City’s Lab, the Russian DIY Netlabel that always delivers some very varied and interesting projects.
It’s no surprise then to discover that Artem also works as part of a group. Sherpa the Tiger is the result of a collaboration with Artem’s friend Andrii Davydenk. Joined later in the studio by Yurji Khomik and Mykhailo Kanafotskyi the 4-piece has turned jam sessions into fine-tuned live performances.
Drawing on classic kosmische/krautrock influences from the 1970s, such as Can and Neu!, but then adding in live sampling, which the pioneers obviously could not, the band create some hypnotic and extremely danceable tracks.
Aficionados look back to some of the greatest albums of the 70s using classic synthesizers, such as the British VCS3. Trying to get that Eastern European vibe Sherpa the Tiger have used old Soviet and East German Synthesizers. This does give the album it’s own unique pedigree.
There are 5 tracks on this album, Great Vowel Shift, 4 of which could be described as the classic kosmische style. Establishing a foundation groove and then allowing progressions to develop as part of a mathematical pattern, you’d be forgiven in thinking this music is simple. Taken individually each of the instruments focuses on a particular riff, which stays the same for 4 iterations and then morphs into something different. Each of the musicians are finely tuned to understanding each other and how each progression works. Layers upon layers constructed and deconstructed before your ears.
You can try and follow along for yourself, but I guarantee that you will just lose yourself in the groove. This is definitely an album for chilling out with over the summer.
