There are ten members of the London based Hip-Hopera band Josephine & The Artizans – consisting of classical strings, operatic vocals, heavy beats and energetic rap.
Classically trained Josephine Permaul was growing increasingly tired of the cultural gap between the pop-scene and classical world. So after experimenting with drum loops, some strings, and rap, Josephine met up with some musicians, and put together the beginnings of a band.
Josephine & The Artizans have received wide spread acclaim since supporting bands such as Maximo Park, The Fratellis and Tom Odell on the main-stages of Galtres Parklands and Brownstock festivals, among many others, last summer.
Debut EP ‘DIES IRAE’ is available now. We had a listen:
The title track on this wonderful E.P. is a fierce celebration of salvation from eternal flames.
‘Dies Irae‘ screams imagination and elegance (and a little bit of humour too) – there’s lots of ideas running through its fluid veins.
This wonder is full of style and Hammerish lumpy rap. And the incredible vocal dexterity … well – it is pristine and golden. The whole thing gels together surprisingly well.
Death is struck, nature is trembling … and this is insanely good.
We are asked to address the bass-line in ‘Carpe Diem’ (although it seems a bit weak ) but, nevertheless, the rap-line slides in smoothly – and the voice of Josephine remains powerful against the beat.
The pace is dizzying, and the whole thing feels smooth and crisp.
‘Let Me Go’ is not unlike the sounds of Nightwish – well that is until the main vocal line grips the pipe and slips along. This then becomes a very nice piece of ornate hip-hop – with sparkling violin cries – and sizzling pizzicato accompaniment.
At about the 2:50 mark – the song is completley re-shaped … then it handles itself like nothing else has done before. This is an exciting trip.
Mournful and passionate, ‘Lacrymosa‘ is a Requiem song sent heavenwards for a guilty man.
Josephine strains her larynx here – folding some amazing sounds around those rhythmic beats and flustering under-currents.
This is startling good fun and we really hope the project grows-and-grows.
@neilmach © 2014
Link:
https://www.facebook.com/JosephineAndTheArtizans
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