A Sufi and a Killer | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 8, 2010 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 58:49 | |||
Label | Warp | |||
Producer |
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Gonjasufi chronology | ||||
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A Sufi and a Killer is the debut studio album by Gonjasufi (Sumach Ecks). It was released by Warp on March 8, 2010.[1] The album was produced by Flying Lotus, The Gaslamp Killer, and Mainframe.
Ecks said of the album: "I didn't want it to be too easy for the listener. I wanted it to hurt a little bit. I wanted it to get into a spot in the head that hasn't been hit".[2] Of its title he said "The Sufi side of life has helped me with my killer side so I try not to attach myself to any label. There's a Sufi and a killer in everybody, man, and I'll be whatever I have to be just to make it through".[3]
Reception
[edit]Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.5/10[4] |
Metacritic | 78/100[5] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Clash | 7/10[7] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Irish Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
MusicOMH | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 8.4/10[12] |
PopMatters | 6/10[13] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Uncut | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, A Sufi and a Killer received an average score of 78 based on 16 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[5] At AnyDecentMusic?, which collates critical reviews from more than 50 media sources, the album scored 7.5 points out of 10, based on 18 reviews.[4]
The album garnered much positive critical coverage on its release. AllMusic's Jason Lymangrover gave the album four stars out of five, describing it as "weird, ‘60s-rooted, psychedelic hip-hop", sounding "like if J. Dilla produced George Clinton after visiting with the Dalai Lama, or if Dan the Automator recorded Cody Chesnutt after the two shared a plate of magic mushrooms", and calling it "truly visionary".[6] The BBC described it as "a stunning, genre-transcending record" and "a terrific, trippy adventure".[16] Drowned in Sound gave the album 7/10, describing Ecks' voice as "a hugely versatile instrument, every bit as unique and distinctive as that of Björk or Tom Waits", and calling the album "a fascinating glimpse of a character continually in transition".[2] The Guardian called it "one of the strangest and most eclectic records you'll hear all year",[3] and "an album that practically has a green smog drifting above it".[8] Clash gave it 7/10, stating "repeated plays reveal an irresistible talent".[7] PopMatters gave it 6/10, with reviewer David Amidon stating "I've listened to this album a lot just trying to make sense of it...and have walked away mostly pleased".[13]
A Sufi and a Killer ranked at number 41 on Tiny Mix Tapes' "Favorite 50 Albums of 2010" list.[17] It ranked at number 14 on The Wire's "2010 Rewind" list.[18]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Gonjasufi
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Untitled (Bharatanatyam)" | The Gaslamp Killer | 0:55 |
2. | "Kobwebz" | The Gaslamp Killer | 2:13 |
3. | "Ancestors" | Flying Lotus | 2:36 |
4. | "Sheep" | The Gaslamp Killer | 4:03 |
5. | "She Gone" | The Gaslamp Killer | 2:45 |
6. | "SuzieQ" | The Gaslamp Killer | 1:44 |
7. | "Stardustin" | The Gaslamp Killer | 1:04 |
8. | "Kowboyz&Indians" | The Gaslamp Killer | 2:43 |
9. | "Change" | The Gaslamp Killer | 2:04 |
10. | "Duet" | The Gaslamp Killer | 3:06 |
11. | "Candylane" | Mainframe | 2:07 |
12. | "Holidays" | Mainframe | 3:57 |
13. | "Love of Reign" | Mainframe | 2:39 |
14. | "Advice" | Mainframe | 2:45 |
15. | "Klowds" | The Gaslamp Killer | 3:28 |
16. | "Ageing" | The Gaslamp Killer | 2:42 |
17. | "DedNd" | The Gaslamp Killer | 3:38 |
18. | "I've Given" | The Gaslamp Killer | 3:35 |
19. | "Made / Dobermins" | The Gaslamp Killer | 10:45 |
Total length: | 58:49 |
Charts
[edit]Chart (2010) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[19] | 55 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[20] | 98 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[21] | 33 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Gonjasufi: A Sufi and a Killer". Warp. Archived from the original on March 23, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
- ^ a b Gibb, Tom (March 3, 2010). "Album Review: Gonjasufi – A Sufi and a Killer". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on March 30, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ a b Meer, Malik (March 6, 2010). "Gonjasufi – the electro Hendrix". The Guardian. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ a b "A Sufi And A Killer by Gonjasufi reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
- ^ a b "Reviews for A Sufi And A Killer by Gonjasufi". Metacritic. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- ^ a b Lymangrover, Jason. "A Sufi and a Killer – Gonjasufi". AllMusic. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ a b Annan, Nick (February 26, 2010). "Gonjasufi – A Sufi and a Killer". Clash. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ a b Dean, Will (March 4, 2010). "Gonjasufi: A Sufi and a Killer". The Guardian. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ Carroll, Jim (March 12, 2010). "Gonjasufi". The Irish Times. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
- ^ "Gonjasufi: A Sufi and a Killer". Mojo (197): 105. April 2010.
- ^ Hogwood, Ben (March 8, 2010). "Gonjasufi – A Sufi And A Killer". MusicOMH. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ Patrin, Nate (March 4, 2010). "Gonjasufi: A Sufi and a Killer". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ a b Amidon, David (April 5, 2010). "Gonjasufi: A Sufi and a Killer". PopMatters. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Gonjasufi: A Sufi and a Killer". Q (285): 111. April 2010.
- ^ "Gonjasufi: A Sufi and a Killer". Uncut (155): 90. April 2010.
- ^ Parkin, Chris (March 9, 2010). "Gonjasufi A Sufi and a Killer Review". BBC Music. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "2010: Favorite 50 Albums of 2010 (50–41)". Tiny Mix Tapes. December 17, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
- ^ "2010 Rewind". The Wire. January 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Gonjasufi – A Sufi & A Killer" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Gonjasufi – A Sufi & A Killer" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
External links
[edit]- A Sufi and a Killer at Discogs (list of releases)