the paradox: counter-active
Francisco Espregueira
Meeting over the revered collaboration of Jeff Mills and Tony Allen, Jean-Phi Dary and Mills built an unstoppable chemistry in the jam sessions with Allen, aware of the skilled innate improvisation that was happening. The Paradox was then conceived as their joint project, now presenting us the mesmerizing Counter-Active, that dropped last friday via Axis Records. Recorded in real-time, the seven compositions that compose the LP reflect captured spontaneous actions which concede honesty and truth.
Jean-Phi Dary is an enriched musical soul of Guyanese descent. The French artist is deeply influenced by the rhythms of Afro-Cuban and Kompa music, which he fused with his desire for jazz, reggae and funk. His career, spanning decades, has taken him everywhere playing afrobeat, jazz, soul and a plethora of other genres. Jeff Mills is an institution. Cutting his teeth during a legendary precursory period of techno in Detroit, as The Wizard, he became an influential figure with the Underground Resistance. He launched the legendary Axis label in 1992, and his reach started to broaden over the occurring decades.
Counter-Active the manifestation of uncompromising freedom and new ideas that allowed these two musical ‘monsters’ to reach a higher level of spiritual consciousness within their work. It’s bold and smooth at the same time. Energetic and meditative. Classic and futuristic. Via Axis Records, this one is for the collectors.
“Paradox: a doubtful statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.”