Snarky Puppy Changes It Up On Latest Album
Fusion band Snarky Puppy has returned to its fully instrumental roots with its 11th album, Culcha Vulcha.
However, the band, led by bassist Michael League, departed from its live-from-the-studio film and audio style for the record, preferring to record at a Texas studio situated in the middle of a pecan ranch, and taking opportunities to overdub.
And League liked the change, noting in a Reddit AMA that for the album, “We really were able to take our time and explore things sonically in ways that are impossible in the live recording format. I think people will be surprised at first with the sound of the record. But I love it.”
He also notes that the album is a “very different-sounding album from anything before in our discography. Big, beefy tones. Lots of different musical personalities. We did it audience-free for a change of pace, and to create a opportunity for a new sound.”
What is the sound? Give opening track “Tarova” a listen:
League also offered up another bass-centric Culcha Vulcha tidbit on the AMA: “My favorite bass at the moment is my go-to, a 1959 Precision with a maple neck. BUT! F-Bass just built me a P/J 4-string that has completely blown me away. I even replaced a few of my bass parts on the new album (Culcha Vulcha) that I had previously tracked on the ’59 with it. So, I think that really says something about the instrument. Hoping they make more along those lines!”
Culcha Vulcha is available on CD, vinyl and as a digital download (iTunes and Amazon MP3).
Culcha Vulcha Track List:
- Tarova
- Semente
- Gemini
- Grown Folks
- Beep Box
- GØ
- The Simple Life
- Palermo
- Big Ugly
- Jefe (digital versions)
