Quantum Fantay: Yemaya Orisha

Quietly going about their business since the 2005 debut album, Agapanthusterra, Lokeren, Belgium outfit Quantum Fantay are now up to album number eight with their latest effort Yemaya Orisha. If, like me, you’ve never been fortunate enough to stumble across this mainly instrumental outfit before, then if Ozric Tentacles ever blip on your musical radar, so too should Quantum Fantay. They aren’t mere copyists, however, with a bolder, more pointed attack the order of the day but the swooping space rock, pinpricked by flute work and smooth vibes, undoubtedly lands in a very similar destination.

What matters is that Yemaya Orisha gets its message across with a real confidence and authority - something that you might not expect from the initial flavour laid down by the near thirteen minute foray of “Yemaya Orisha (Veautifull Mocean pt1)�, where the dependence on a deep groove is testament to the beat brought to bear by bassist Jaro and drummer Luis Verlinden. The pair are the rock solid backbone of this outfit and time and again they create the foundation from which the more expansive aspects sprout forth. As with the rest of this collection, there’s also a feel that you’re being taken on a voyage that is ever changing and evolving. The flute work from guest Charles Sla (who was a founder member of the band) adds an otherworldliness to proceedings as the pace rocks back and forth, putting its foot to the floor when the mood takes it but easing right back often enough that the whole experience breathes quite naturally.

Guitarist Tom Tas is also given the room to break free, with the solo on “Riddles Of The Sphinx� certainly much more fiery and fierce than you might anticipate in this situ, with the fretsmith really proving his worth and skills. And yet, whether through the pulsating pop of “Mami Wata (Veauitifull Mocean pt2)� or the hypnotic swirl of “Gemini Flower� what really makes the strongest impact here is the mood and tone set by the whole band working together, synth/programmer Pete Mush just as integral to the intoxicating blend of “Serra Da Estrela� - and everything else found on this album - as his band mates prove to be.

Much though there’s major play made in the press release for this album announcing it features the female voices of Rafaela and Maera singing ‘distinguished words’, don’t be fooled into thinking that Quantum Fantay have cashed in their instrumental credentials. The spoken word sections found on the album’s closing piece being as near to ‘vocals’ as this album gets. Like the best instrumental efforts, it is actually one of this album’s strength that it doesn’t need words to get its message out there, or lyrics to tell its story. Instead the moving, vibrant music does that all on its own and in such a way as to keep you totally tuned in from the first note, to the very last.

Track Listing
1. Yemaya Orisha (Veautifull Mocean pt1)
2. Mami Wata (Veautifull Mocean pt2)
3. Riddles Of The Sphinx
4. Gemini Flower
5. Serra Da Estrela

Added: June 29th 2019
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Quantum Fantay on facebook
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Language: english

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