Dexter Story - Inner (MAI) [New Age]
- The Slow Music Movement
- Mar 2
- 2 min read
Dexter Story has cropped up in TSMM's blog and playlists numerous times over the years, and if you don't know this multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, ethnomusicologist and respected man about Los Angeles music town then I recommend checking his Afrocentric musical journey over the years.
Inner is a pleasing departure from Story that took me by surprise when it dropped a couple of weeks back on his Music, Art and Inspiration label. There's always been a spiritual dimension to his Afro-jazz output, but Inner takes a trip through blissful, West Coast new age territory, its healing frequencies smiling at and wishing well to all those within earshot.
For this excursion Rani de Leon from Dublab was speed dialled for production duties, to what extent I'm not quite clear considering Story's capabilities, but the recording is full of our boy's musical touches on exotic to us, everyday to many, instruments as well as field recordings from far flung places. For example the album opener, "Promised Land" contains recordings of the Red Sea's waters from its Eritrean shoreline, flutes and hand played percussion blended with cosmic synth tones that bridges the gap between inner thoughts and outer-experience, earthly feelings and outer-dimensional speculation. Just the sort of self and surround awareness that is in all too short supply these days.
And so the album continues its well meaning journey through electroacoustic new age territory, reviving the counter-cultural optimism and brighter day designs of sixty years ago, repackaging them in serene and blissful musical form. The tracks are short and sweet, more mood music than songs, but when the vibe is set to such warm and serene settings and the flow is this fluid I'm certainly not complaining. Tune in, turn on and get involved, and apparently there's a new, presumably more Afro-rooted album on the way from Soundway Records later in the year. Bring it on.
Playlist Companion
For more wellness imbuing vibrations check out the New Age of New Age Playlist.
