Tommy T - The Prester John Sessions

Tommy T

The Prester John Sessions

Easy Star Records

2/5

“Music inspired by Ethiopia” isn’t a buzz phrase you hear all too often, so you’d be forgiven for not knowing what to expect from Tommy T’s first solo album. Even more so if you’ve heard the madcap, lunacy of his usual day job, gypsy-punk band Gogol Bordello. One thing that is for sure however is that you weren’t expecting a mixture of jazz, reggae and funk.

Largely an instrumental affair, The Prester John Sessions is surely set to be one of the most chilled out albums set for release in 2010. That isn’t to say there aren’t any hooks in there at all. The relaxing riffs of ‘Brothers’ and ‘The Eighth Wonder’ are fairly memorable, but are only asked to take command of an album with little else leaping out at you. The introduction of Gigi, a woman with an undeniably beautiful voice, on two songs does mix up the album a little, it still isn’t enough to make the album a must listen.

Whilst it’s unquestionable that the album is one born out of love for the Addis Ababa born bassists homeland, it doesn’t grab you with even an ounce of the passion of any of his other projects.