Music
Press
"This is very, very good!" - Radio 1
The Ironweed Project is the amazing brainchild of Aniff Akinola and 'Dustbowl' is the debut album release that's all set to bring nu-blues to the attention of an unsuspecting world.
With growlin' vocals, scintillating rhythms, tasty pickin' and punchy horns, The Ironweed Project brings the blues totally up to date by melding the blues ethos with modern electronics, pop leanings and hip hop interventions. Hidden in its depths you'll also find some real rockin' soul, a few hints of reggae and even a few genuine, funky-pop moments. It works extremely well; but, 'Dustbowl' really does have to be heard to be appreciated. Akinola has birthed a new musical devil in The Ironweed Project; massively original and undeniable, it's a work that'll make you stand back and admire the man's invention and courage.
As catchy as hell and stunningly original, 'Dustbowl' ups the ante and surely has a strong enough hand to be a winner. 'Dustbowl' is an admirable piece of work whichever way you look at it. It takes risks, it's pushes at boundaries, it's genuinely gutsy yet scarily commercial in a 'goin' in the backdoor kinda way'!
The modern meets the traditional fusion is enlightening and absorbing. The Ironweed Project, with 'Dustbowl', could be heading for well deserved success. But, as good as this album is, it'll need loads of radio and TV exposure to break it; I can easily envisage thousands of people switching on their 'sets' and hearing tracks from 'Dustbowl' and saying "what the bloody hell was that!!", and curiosity should then push them to finding out more - promotion, promotion, promotion - that's what The Ironweed Project now needs.
Hey listen, there aint a bad track on 'Dustbowl' - lift any one and it could be released as a single. As an album though it's a work of innovation and modern musical genius - this aint no novelty work, this is seriously good music that's more than capable of breaking through. Fascinating, forceful, forward-thinking - flippin' fabulous! - Toxic Pete - online
“Great singles, really looking forward to the album”
"Think Mississippi meets Manchester for a good
night on the lash followed by a tequila sunrise and you’re halfway there."
- IDJ Magazine
Discography
Down To My Grave - single - 2006
Get On The Floor - single - 2007
Boom Boom Clap - single - 2007
Dustbowl - album - 2008
Photos
Bio
Fresh from making their mark with 4 shows at SXSW 2008 - The Ironweed Project is the brainchild of renowned writer, producer and vocalist, Aniff Akinola, founding member of cult Manc hip-hop outfit ‘Chapter and the Verse’, co-writer of a Guy Called Gerald’s classic house anthem ‘Voodoo Ray’, co-writer of Kirsty MacColl’s hit ‘Walking Down Madison’ and general co-conspirator of such 90’s electronic luminaries as The Orb, Steve Hillage and The Beloved.
Seeking inspiration for his latest venture, Aniff appears to have taken the same trip to the Mississippi crossroads as legendary bluesman Robert Johnson, but rather than sell his soul to Satan, he merely passed him a bottle of Bourbon and the pair bonded over a love of George Clinton, The KLF and the Delta Blues. Just as Johnson returned from the crossroads as the greatest bluesman in the Delta, Aniff returns home (his soul still intact) a transformed man - an electro-bluesman for the 21st century: ‘Ironweed.’
His debut album for Fat Northerner records, aptly titled ‘Dustbowl’ drags traditional blues kickin an’ howlin into the electronic age. Containing seventeen tracks of beautifully drawled dustbowl vocals set to twanging guitars, funky horns and skittering breakbeats, the album recalls ‘Odelay’-era Beck (‘Perfect Day’), The Fun Lovin’ Criminals (‘Get on the Floor’) and even the Stone Roses on the slowed-down psychedelic krautrock groove of ‘Lovemakers’.
The first single to be taken from the album ‘All By Myself’ features the stunning vocal talents of Kyla Brox, daughter of Mancunian blues hero Victor Brox, and is a prime slice of future-blues, just as likely to inspire bittersweet melancholy as it is dancefloor euphoria.
“This is very, very good”
Rob Da Bank, BBC Radio 1
”There is a great vibe to this music!”
Rob Birch, Stereo MC’s
Links
