The Tao of Yo

by Yohimbe Brothers

Overview

Yohimbe Brothers (Vernon Reid and DJ Logic) are back with another genre-smashing effort, this time on Thirsty Ear and helped out by the production team of Goodandevil (Christian Castagno and Danny Blume). It's got all the dense sonic detail as Front End Lifter, and ranges just as far stylistically, but this time out there's a more serious political bent to the proceedings rather than just the good times/party aspect of their first album. They kick things off with a dancehall-flavored number, featuring the vocals and poetry of Latasha Natasha Diggs, then move into the hard rock/turntablism/drum'n'bass concoction of "The Secret Frequency." "More From Life" is the most direct diatribe, featuring Traz spitting righteous rhymes aimed squarely at the GOP about some of the realities of urban life. "TV" and "Words They Choose" are the other incisive tunes, addressing how and where people get their news and information. Taylor McFerrin takes a low-key but pointed approach on the atmospheric and dubby "Words They Choose," while Bos Omega gives a Flava Flav-style delivery over some crunching guitar on "TV," which also has a chorus with a monster hook and a freaky acoustic guitar solo. Other tunes like "Noh Rio," "30 Spokes," and "Overcoming" are mellow instrumentals (despite the wicked electric soloing on "Overcoming"), which are further contrasted with the recurring "Shape" interludes (consisting of acoustic guitar, tap dancing (?), and other assorted sundry "sounds"). Since Vernon Reid is involved, of course there's plenty of guitar throughout, but Yohimbe Brothers are more about a genre-defying thick aural stew rather than guitar grandstanding. There's way more detail to these tracks than could possibly be picked up on an initial listening, making this album a pleasure to come back to. Listen with headphones for the full effect. ~ Sean Westergaard

Product Details

Release Date:	11/09/2004
Label:	Thirsty Ear
UPC:	0700435714915
Rank:	82787

Tracks

1. Shine For Me
2. The Secret Frequency
3. More From Life
4. Shape 4
5. Noh Rio
6. TV
7. 30 Spokes
8. Unimportance
9. No Pistolas
10. Overcoming
11. Words They Use
12. Shape 1
13. Perfect Traveller (Tourist Europe)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Yohimbe Brothers   Primary Artist
Taylor McFerrin   Primary Artist,Vocals
Eddie Hall   Primary Artist,Bongos,Congas,Percussion,Dumbek,Bongos,Congas,Dumbek,Shaker
Shantyman   Primary Artist,Spoken Word
Ricky Quinones   Primary Artist,Vocals
Latasha Natasha Diggs   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Deantoni Parks   Primary Artist,Drums
Bos Omega   Primary Artist,Vocals
Traz   Primary Artist,Vocals
Jared Nickerson   Primary Artist,Guitar (Bass)
Maya Jenkins   Primary Artist
Graham Haynes   Primary Artist,Cornet
Jared Michael Nickerson   Primary Artist,Bass
Maya Smullyan Jenkins   Primary Artist
GoodandEvil   Various Instruments
DJ Logic   Sound Effects,Turntables
Vernon Reid   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Guitar (Synthesizer)
Eva Milan "AKA Snook" Zsiga   Choir/Chorus

Technical Credits

Maya Jenkins   Taps
GoodandEvil   Programming,Audio Engineer,Audio Production,Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Danny Blume   Group Member
Vernon Reid   Group Member
Scott Hull   Mastering
DJ Logic   Effects,Group Member
Latasha Natasha Diggs   Vocal Effect
Shantyman   Commentary
Steve Byram   Design,Artwork
Maya Smullyan Jenkins   Dance
Christian Castagno   Group Member