PRICE:
$16.50
NOT IN STOCK
1-2 Weeks
ARTIST
TITLE
Bonaparte
FORMAT
LP

LABEL
CATALOG #
AKT 752LP AKT 752LP
GENRE
RELEASE DATE
6/24/2014

Staatsakt presents the fifth album from rag-tag international carnival punk artist/band, Bonaparte. Bonaparte collects languages (both musical and verbal) everywhere he goes -- like a kid collects shells at the seashore -- excited about each and every new discovery -- vibing off of the rubble of the Berlin Wall, the melodious bird songs of New Zealand, the camaraderie of Russian vodka, and the beat-up breakdance cardboard of Brooklyn. By soaking up such a wide array of cultural contexts, Bonaparte has developed an effortless knack for code-switching that keeps his music unpredictable and fresh. Even though he sings primarily in English, it often seems as if he is experimenting with his own idiosyncratic dialect -- where repetition and wordplay morph meaning into something that is entirely fluid, dynamic, and oftentimes absurdist. Two of Bonaparte's biggest hits -- "Anti-Anti" and "Too Much" -- utilize this twist of meaning so effectively that seemingly negative phraseologies become chant-worthy rallying cries. The same kind of magic is worked in "Out of Control," a stand-out track where there is such a clash of disparate musical and linguistic traditions that the urgency of the message becomes contagiously universal. Just as he gathers languages in his constant state of motion, Bonaparte also gathers conspirators, collaborators, fervent followers, and most importantly, friends. A gaggle of elaborately-costumed dancers decorate his frenetic live show. Videographers emerge from their darkened editing suites to create stunning Bonaparte videos. Engineers and musicians alike are quick to accept invitations to record from this charmingly strange traveler. Such was the case for recording this self-titled Bonaparte album in Brooklyn, NY. After a chance meeting and a few drinks, Bonaparte casually teamed up with Andy Baldwin to record an entire album -- featuring drumming by Philadelphia native Christopher Powell, and even a cameo from Brooklyn rapper/artist Tim Fite. If you listen very carefully between the notes of the songs, you can hear the sound-distance traveled and life-long friendships being formed. Includes an mp3 download voucher; die-cut cover.