Heart Of Hecate: Papa Legba
Self-released
Download | Stream
Heart Of Hecate whisk us from Glasgow to the gates of the spirit world via the Deep South and Haiti with their captivating new release, Papa Legba.
Haitian Vodou, Louisiana Voodoo and associated music have been fertile ground for many artists, from Robert Johnson and Dr John to, more recently, Jim Jones – hardly surprising given the rich and fascinating cultural vein to be mined. And this is perfect territory for the theatrically inventive Heart of Hecate to inhabit as they unleash their interpretation of this intriguing legend to create a wonderfully immersive listener experience. For the uninitiated, Papa Legba is the gatekeeper at the crossroads of humanity and the spirit world whose role is to allow access and communication between the two.
Using a mix of old and new, the track follows the dialogue between a brazen traveller intent on making contact with the other side (‘Open the gates, allow me to speak, it’s not a man but a demon I seek’) and the fearsome gatekeeper himself, as he demands recompense for his services. The percussive intro hints at a carnival atmosphere before distorted vocals and a bass / electronica-heavy backing lead us into darker and more disturbing territory. However, the general tone remains strangely upbeat and, indeed, sensual as our female protagonist refuses to kowtow to the mysterious entity. Whereas we tend to fear the unknown and the unexplained, Vodou instead appears to embrace the magic and rituals with respect rather than dread, a distinction captured by the song’s portrayal of Papa Legba as an intimidating but simultaneously potentially amenable character.
There’s so much to enjoy here. Hypnotic beats, entertaining production effects, a great storyline (which might well inspire further investigation) and, underpinning it all, a deceptively catchy tune. You won’t get to hear Heart Of Hecate at the Grammys or piped down the aisles of your local supermarket – more’s the pity. Instead, this is a band constantly on the lookout for more obscure, dangerous, weird and wonderful avenues to explore, and they are all the more engaging for that.
Heart Of Hecate Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp
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All words by Robin Boardman. More writing from Robin for Louder Than War can be found at his author’s archive.
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