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Following the brilliant 13 Faces of Lightning Head and Lion Head Compilation Volume One, here’s another stick to the drum of Glyn “Bigga” Bush’ Lion Head Recordings label as I know that the Magic Drum Orchestra has a special place in his heart.

He started this project five years ago with Ralph Cree and between them and their ever evolving squad (currently at standing at 12 members), they’ve now recorded 8 tracks inspired by all things batucada, samba and bateria. If not exactly straight from the carnival streets of Rio or the North Eastern States (al a Forro In The Dark), MDO are a regular fixture around the fields of the Big Chill Festival (and they featured on main stage along with Hexstatic as this years’ Sunday night finale - there was a cool bit of video as Michael (RIP) danced to the Police’s ‘Walkin’ On The Moon’) and if you’re lucky you can catch them in various parts of Dorset in the summer (like last years’ Chilled Cider festival).

So, you know when you the best bit of those Brazilian Beats tracks from Mr. Bongo was the drum break, the Magic Drum Orchestra have taken it that step further as the original samba and batucada rhythms incorporate elements of Afrobeat, traditional African and Cuban rhythms, funk, hip hop and ragga beats; like the opener ‘Ragga Samba’ (after all, Bigga is an expert in all things reggae, see BiggaBush In Dub).

So if you’re into band like Breakestra, you’ll love the concept of MDO as a highlight of the band’s live set is a medley of Snoop Dogg’s ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ mixed with the theme from the Muppet Show and elements of James Brown’s ‘Funky Drummer’. This is where Glyn and Ralph get inventive as the leaders as on their cues, the band can go off into different breaks, solos and arrangements from the other percussionists which can also involve improvisations on top of tightly-rehearsed grooves. And back in Africa, the drumming winds of ‘Serengeti’ blow up a storm along with ‘Mozambique’ and ‘Dynamic Africana’; this is the ‘raw’ versions, if you like, of Bob Holroyd’s ‘Drumming Up A Storm’

There used to be a very good local samba band to me and because of their reputation, other samba bands from all over Europe used to come and visit them so that throughout the summer, they’d would be samba beats all over the place, like ‘Tumbaiao’ (but with more whistles and cuica than MDO, the clue being in the ‘D’) and I always thought that this could be so much better if they we’re less into ‘competition’ and freed up they’re musical reference points; a low and behold, that’s what: Magic Drum Orchestra are all about - brilliant!

STOP PRESS: There was a rare opportunity to see MDO indoors on 1st October at the Winchester as guests of the very fine Achilles. Lead to the stage by a most elegant and head dressed female dancer, they band played a 50 minutes set that was all about the drum (although Glyn’s whistle control on ‘Drop It (Like A Funky Muppet)’ and this spoons/washboard climax were most impressive). Very impressive and by all the reactions, they’ll be invited back.

Reviewed: Magic Drum Orchestra - In The Studio (Lion Head Recordings ) Cat. No. LH003 Release date: 28th September 2009
Tracklisting:
1. Ragga Samba (4:19)
2. Serengeti (4:40)
3. Dynamic Africana (4:41)
4. Smelebele (3:44)
5. Sofa/Gidamba (3:33)
6. Mozambique (4:53)
7. Drop It (Like A Funky Muppet) (4:54)
8. Tumbaiao (4:44)

Links:
< a href=”www.magicdrum.org.uk”>www.magicdrum.org.uk
www.myspace.com/magicdrumorchestra
www.biggabush.co.uk
www.myspace.cm/biggamusic
www.myspace.com/lionheadrecordings
www.myspace.com/rockershifimusic
The Cuica - a Brazilian Drum