We first got into Akasa through Lise’s choir leader, Diana Clark (she and her partner/hubby, Doug De Vries are Melbournian Brazilian music icons). Diana was/is/was one of the four women in the group.
Primarily a capella, they sometimes employ rhythm with a drum, djembe, shaker, tapping sticks or whatever else. Akasa are a real, genuine celebration of womanhood and the feminine spirit. Beautiful harmonies and four powerful voices working together make Akasa a powerful listening experience (and not the American/Australian Idol kinda “powerful” voies of them yelling in tune over the top of eachother, either).
Akasa Akasa
1999
Akasa’s debut 6 track album [/E.P.] essentially set the premise for their future works to embrace and expand upon.
Taking the listener on a journey ranging from contemplating life to celebrating it; celebrating a loved one to mourning a loved one.
Earthly, tribal rhythms and sounds are very prominent in this recording and if you close your eyes you could easily find yourself in Uluru.
Having only 6 tracks, every one of them stands out in their own way.
8.5/10
Akasa World Citizen
2002
World Citizen is effectively twice as long, with 12 tracks and is more diverse than Akasa’s introduction.
Having more of an Aboriginal ambience about this album, it also celbrates/highlights the struggles of humanity and what makes us who we are. World Citizen is, as the album title may suggest, a lot more political. It also has a lot more upbeat moments.
This album overall is not quite as good as Akasa. Whilst it has some brilliant tracks, it also has not-so-brilliant tracks. That said there are no songs that make this a bad album; none that I run to my iPod to skip.
Standout tracks are Power To The People, Slave, Divorced, Walk With Me
7.5/10
Akasa Views From An Urban Jungle
2006(~ish)
I say 2006~ish because we have a pre-release edition which has no information on it.
This album isn’t as political as World Citizen but nor is it as spiritual as Akasa, but somewhere in between. This album is probably the most diverse of the three. Council Coconuts takes a mocking look at buskers’ need for public liability, whilst Freeway makes a more “in yo face” statement to the Victorian parliament about a bypass that was an absolute balls up financially.
The actual music is very fitting to the topics sung about. As always harmonies are powerful, rhythm is solid and messages are loud and clear, with moments of Bobby McFerrin and even The Andrews Sisters.
Standout tracks are Cry No More, I Won’t Break, Need Some Care and (my fave Akasa song of all) Lullaby.
8/10
