Here Lies Man, the genre-busting project started by Antibalas guitarist Marcos Garcia, are streaming their cover of Fela Kuti’s 1977 classic Sorrow, Tears and Blood. The original song was released by Kuti as a response to a state-sponsored attack on his Kalakuta Republic compound in Lagos, during which Nigerian soldiers threw his mother out of a second floor window, causing injuries that eventually led to her death.
“Sorrow, Tears, and Blood was the first Fela track I’d ever heard,” says Garcia. “I had it on repeat and with every listen it gave me chills. The track made an indelible impression on me and from that point forth all of my musical endeavours were influenced by Fela’s music.”
Sorrow Tears And Blood is from Here Lies Man’s upcoming Animal Noises EP, which kicks off with the title track and also features a Chico Mann remix of You Ain’t Going Nowhere, the original of which is taken from the band’s critically-acclaimed, self-titled debut album.
The album mixes Afrobeat rhythms with Western, riff-orientated heavy rock. “The repetitive guitar figures that happen in Afrobeat music are very close to heavy rock guitar riffs,” says Garcia. “This music is based on the clave. It’s the musical algorithm that the rhythms revolve around. It’s what gives it integrity and provides the basis for the musical conversation that’s happening. I knew I wanted it to be psychedelic and heavy, and I wanted to be expanding on a musical tradition rather than pretending to be creating something new!”
Animal Noises is released on November 24 via Riding Easy Records. Here Lies Man play some UK and European dates in February and March next year (see dates below).
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Animal Noises Track Listing
- Animal Noises
- Sorrow Tears and Blood
- You Ain’t Goin Nowhere (Chico Mann Remix)
- Animal Noises (Instrumental)
Here Lies Man live shows
Nov 18: The Hi Hat, Los Angeles, CA
Nov 19: Alex’s Bar, Long Beach, CA
Feb 22: Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL
Feb 23: Musik und Frieden, Berlin, DE
Feb 24: Vinterjazz Festival, Copenhagen, DK
Feb 25: Nochtspeicher, Hamburg, DE
Feb 27: Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, BE
Feb 28: L’Olympic Cafe, Paris, FR
Mar 02: The Exchange, Bristol, UK
Mar 03: West Hill Hall, Brighton, UK
Mar 05: Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, UK
Mar 06: Soup Kitchen, Manchester, UK
Mar 07: Moth Club, London, UK
