Kro Gnosis by Bradfield Dumpleton

Following the more spacious experiments on the previous Temple album, using a newly-acquired kalimba, Kro Gnosis explores the instrument in a more percussive and musical setting.

This album marks a return to live recording and organic percussion, and features many of my favourite African percussion instruments - dundun, djembe, kalangu (talking drum), balafon and others. It was great fun to reacquaint myself with these old friends, and to spontaneously develop the rhythmic layers. Over these organic rhythms are woven melodic textures featuring kalimba, kemenche (Turkish fiddle), cello (bowed and played as a bass) and metal tongue drum. Even balalaika gets a look in.

As a result, many of the pieces are suggestive of North African, Middle and Near-Eastern music, with subtle use of electronics for textural effect. In making these pieces, my thoughts flowed toward ancient mystic traditions, Sufism, the search for union with the divine through self-immolation, shamanic and alchemic exploration, and Crow as symbol of other dimensions of perception - gnosis as self-knowing.

Tracklist

1.	Chaos Magick	4:51

2.	Ishtar Rising	9:27

3.	I Called Your Name, But You Could Not Hear	3:53

4.	The Unravelled Alchemist	5:26

5.	Life Is Fire	7:50

6.	Kro Gnosis	5:34

7.	A Perpetual Annihilation Of Self	9:29

8.	The One Who Wears Wool	6:44

Credits

released February 20, 2022

Music © 2022 Bradfield Dumpleton. Recorded & edited one week in Feb 2022, at Nicholls Rivulet, SE Tasmania.

BD plays: Dundun, djembe, tambour, kalangu, kalimba, tongue drum, cello bass, cello (bowed), kemenche, balafon, Tibetan singing bowl, lagerfone, fire alarm bell, balalaika, threestringbox slide, agogo bells, shakers, jawharp, logdrum.

More info: bradfielddumpleton.com/kro-gnosis-2022/

Cover photo: © Heidi Van Rijswijk (detail)

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