Kytheria, another name for Aphrodite, is a fitting name for Drumspyder’s elegant new album of slinky, sensual music. 
San Fransisco-based Drumspyder, whom I interviewed earlier, composes unique percussive music that blends so many genres and regional influences. In that sense, it’s “world music”. But you could also classify it as dub or downtempo. Or maybe it would be best not to classify it at all. You can hear jazz, rock, folk and other genres right through.
On the Kytheria album, there are.fourteen wonderfully rich tracks of listening. Interestingly, each track is quite distinct in its style — and yet very Drumspyder. As with the previous albums, this is great stuff for tribal fusion dancers, but it’s just plain great listening as well. My favorite is the first track, The Nocturnal Stealth of Cats, which has what seems to my ear, distinctly Indian influences. Though it could be Middle East as well. Another lovely track is Return of the Dark, sensual and yet fast paced and somewhat trance like. Turning is also a trance-like track and one which would be quite nice for whirling, in my opinion. Ah, all the tracks are really nice. I normally can’t handle how artists just insert Western instruments into music from the Orient, but Drumspyder has managed to mix them seamlessly and naturally so that they just fit and can’t be any other way.
For those interest, Kytheria is published by Dakini Records.
Hi Mala, I found a website where you can listen to samples here…
http://www.dakinirecords.com/~English/releases_eng_09.html#DAK2120
I’m quite tempted by this as a lot of the tracks seem like they would be quite danceable to, and nice just to listen to as well.
The tabla solo sounds promising too, I like what I heard there.
How nice! Thanks, Ruth. Can’t blame you for being tempted. I actually put this review up as a temporary write up. I wanted to describe each track -but just haven’t had the time. Are you familiar with the previous two albums? You’ll find some dancing to them on Youtube if you look for Drumspyder. But Kytheria is still hot off the press.
I’ve got the first one, Nekryia 1 or whatever it’s called, never choreographed anything to any of the tracks though, I’m obsessed with Al Ahram Orchestra at the moment, and there are a few tracks on the Body Shock album that I ‘m lining up for my next efforts.
Is that Aubre on the cover?
It’s hard to tell with her face at that angle, but the model certainly looks flexible enough to be her. Not sure about the bra though!!
I can’t tell if it’s Aubre. Haven’t worked with her videos, though I have her Teasing Ways choreography. Scares me to look at it!
I get obsessed with songs… but then I listen to them about 200 times consecutively!
The cover model is Kristina from Nekyia.
Thanks for the review, Mala!
Ah, glad you like it. I hope others can share their views when they hear it — even the samples.
I haven’t heard of Kristina before, she’s beautiful.
Mala, I’m going to go back and learn that flipping Teasing ways choreo, I really like it, and I’m going to discipline myself to learn this properly all the way through.
I’ve just ordered the new Rachel Brice Serpentine and also Anasma’s wave explosion, so I’ve got to get moving!
Anasma’s DVDs are among WDNY’s “spectaculars” in my opinion. I just wish I could do these. But I’m far from it. Let me get past East Coast 1, for heaven’s sake!
) That teasing ways is interesting. It just needed more oomph. It needs some dramatic moments and definitely needs to be woken up with some better constuming and attitude.
I agree about the ‘oomph’ factor, the music doesn’t have much drama either, but I like a lot of the combinations, and it is definitely a challenge. I’m really looking forward to seeing the new Anasma, not that I’ve got very far with the first one!