Eccodek – Mistake of the Ear (The Peppermoth Variations) (Big Mind/Six Degrees, 2023)
Mistake of the Ear (The Peppermoth Variations) is a tantalizing offering by Canada’s world fusion visionaries, Eccodek. It is a crossroads where the boundless creativity of Eccodek’s global dub meets the ethereal landscapes of Peppermoth’s ambient electronic cinematics.
This project serves as a meeting of minds, a symbiosis of two distinct yet complementary musical entities. As Andrew McPherson, the two-time Juno-nominated architect behind Eccodek, commemorated two decades of sound exploration, he sensed the fertile ground for a new artistic venture. Mistake of the Ear emerged as a musical dialogue between Eccodek and McPherson’s latest undertaking, Peppermoth. The goal was to weave threads from all five Eccodek studio albums into a fascinating reinvention. Yet, let it be clear, this is no mere remix album; these are bold reinventions.
Following the triumph of Eccodek’s 2015 album Singing in Tongues, McPherson embarked on a hiatus to nurture Peppermoth, a project grounded in classical influences and a reverence for atmospherics, minimalism, and dub. Over five prolific years, he crafted four albums, catching the ear of Six Degrees Records.
On Mistake of the Ear (The Peppermoth Variations), Peppermoth’s patient, hypnotic arrangements provide a luminous backdrop for Eccodek’s vocalists, mixing the warmth of acoustic instrumentation with the enigmatic allure of synths and sonic treatments. Subtitled ‘The Peppermoth Variations‘, the project draws inspiration from classical motifs, echoing the timeless tradition of thematic development through variations.
Stripped of Eccodek’s trademark funk and groove, the singers ascend like celestial beings above a landscape of melody and ambience, inviting listeners into a realm of transcendent beauty. Among the featured vocalists are longstanding collaborators whose voices resonate deeply within the project’s DNA; from the captivating Kiran Ahluwalia and Onkar Singh to the fiery energy of Mansa Sissoko and Jah Youssouf.
Instrumentally, Andrew McPherson’s versatility shines as he uses a diverse array of keyboards, wind instruments, percussion, and strings, with notable contributions from masters such as Sissoko and Youssouf.
Produced, recorded and mixed by Andrew McPherson at The Monastereo, Guelph, Canada 2023. Additional vocal recording by Jeremy Darby (Kiran Ahluwalia), MC Yogi (MC Yogi), Mahsa Vadat (Mahsa Vadat).
Musicians: Andrew McPherson – keyboards, guitars, bass, programming, flute, xaphoon, harmonium, e-bow, omnichord; Kiran Ahluwalia, Meral Mert, Ignace Ntirushwamaboko, Onkar Singh, Mansa Sissoko, Mahsa Vahdat, MC Yogi, Jah Youssouf on vocals; Aaron Lightstone – oud; Mansa Sissoko – kora; Jah Youssouf – ngoni; Jason Shute – congas; Les Hartai – modular synths.
Buy Mistake of the Ear (The Peppermoth Variation.
Author: Ryan Emmert
