“a journey inspired by early African electronic music and modern beats”    

– this is Exotica for the 23rd century – Piccadilly Records UK

Drumphilia volume 1 is a rhythmic experiment that sits on the fault line between traditional instrumentation and analogue electronics. The project is a response to many years spent working with, learning about and listening to African and Caribbean percussion. Traditional rhythmic influences are combined with analogue drum machines and drum synths to create a hybrid sound that continues in the tradition of artists like Frances Bebey. There are no traditional harmonic instruments on the recordings – the aim was to create melody and texture using only carefully tuned percussion instruments, whether organic or electronic. Basslines were created by blending drum synth tones with the acoustic marimbula, a traditional Caribbean instrument that was often used in place of a bass guitar. Melodies were created with everything from log drums and thumb pianos to early Soviet drum modules and the trailblazing Pearl Syncussion SY-1. Various time signatures and textures are used across the album to produce melody out of rhythm – hypnotic, evolving tracks that celebrate and highlight the importance of rhythm in modern music. All the sessions were recorded at the Mop Mop studio in Berlin between September and December, 2016. Instruments featured include: Log drum, marimbula, kalimba, sansula, krabebs, Pearl Syncussion SY-1, Vermona DRM1, MFB Tanzbär, MFB Tanzmaus, RMIF Elsita, assorted drum machines and talkboxes.

Liner notes by Hugo Mendez

Album Preview

2LP/CD/Digi Out June 2018 on Cristalline – a division of – Agogo Records

Buy Album HERE

Album Tracklist :
A1 Jawa (03:31)
A2 Maharaja (05:30)
B1 The Juggler (02:31)
B2 El Guerrero (04:22)
B3 The Forbidden Tale (03:48)
C1 Marranzanu (04:16)
C2 Pink Twirl (04:22)
D1 Paramour (02:24)
D2 Blue Drop (02:59)
D3 Bacio Rubato (02:32)
D4 Cosmonomade (03:30)

Bonustrack CD/Digi: Syncussion (06:51)

Written, Performed, Arranged and Produced by Andrea Benini
Mixed by Andrea Benini and Andrea Scardovi at Duna Studio (RA) Italy
Mastered by Kelly Hibbert
Artwork by Gianni Rossi
Production Supervisor Nic Fontana
Concept by Andrea Benini

Cristalline A&R : Andrea Benini and Ralf Zitzmann

Video Animation by Akiko Yamashita   *   Graphic Design by Gianni Rossi

 Video EPK 

Andrea Benini – Drumphilia Live (Duo)

Andrea Benini – Drumphilia Live (Solo Exp One)

Andrea Benini – Drumphilia Live (Solo Exp Two)

Drumphilia Live (Duo) Video Credits:
Location – Superbudda (Torino – Italy)
Camera Operator – Alessandro Isetta, Gabriele Ottino
Audio – Davide Tomat
Editing – Gabriele Ottino
Directed by Gabriele Ottino

Live Line up:
Andrea Benini – live looping, drums, vocals
Pasquale Mirra – vibraphone, malletkat, percussions