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Trains and Moonlight Destinies (Album)

by Black Masala

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1.
“Trains and Moonlight Destinies” On the east side of town not far from my home Mistakes come a callin’ and they won’t let me go Too many nights, Too many drinks, Too many roads I’ve known Still the voice calls me and always grabs a hold Yeah oh yeah she dances through the night Her voice sings to me through a tunnel of light Far away away with this vagabond soul World keeps a spinnin’ and she won’t, she won’t let me go How can you tell me it’s all just a dream You and I we seal our fate on things that we believe Trains and moonlight destinies, such a bright fantasy You know it’s not lost on me, I’ll run until I’m free Yeah oh yeah she dances through the night Her voice sings to me through a tunnel of light Far away away with this vagabond soul World keeps a spinnin’ and she won’t, she won’t let me go Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Yeah oh yeah she dances through the night Her voice sings to me through a tunnel of light Far away, away with this vagabond soul World keeps a spinnin’ and she won’t let me go Yeah oh yeah she dances through the night Her voice sings to me through a tunnel of light Far away away with this vagabond soul World keeps a spinnin’ and she won’t, she won’t let me go Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
2.
Midnight comes and lays its head upon a mirrored room You reach out to grab a glimpse but it all fades away so soon In the darkest days (you) keep a look out into the light Take the key and slip away into an endless night Snow falls round you hear a sound that brings you to your knees Trees give way and light a voice into your make believe Mix and match the pirouettes that dance around your head Drifting through a melody that ripples through the air In my mind I am free but it’s not what you want to believe This time I will see through the walls staring back at me Midnight comes and lays its head upon a mirrored room You reach out to grab a glimpse but it all fades away so soon Carry a dream into the cold and you feel it coming down A voice calls out into the noise and the night barely makes a sound Swirling scenes of masquerade that lift into the air And a moonlight train arrives in time to slip you off to another affair In my mind I am free but it’s not what you want to believe This time I will see through the walls staring back at me Midnight comes and lays its head upon a mirrored room You reach out to grab a glimpse but it all fades away so soon
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Big Man 04:52
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about

Late-Night Heat: Black Masala’s Brassy Midnight Party Grooves from NoLa to Punjab on Trains and Moonlight Destinies

You want to have a good time? You need brass.

This is what DC’s Black Masala blasts to the world, harnessing all the good times sunk in the Romany, second-line, bhangra, and funk horn parts that have gotten huge swaths of the planet up and dancing. With rock drive and a willingness to be as weird and wonderful as the party demands, Black Masala woos fans and new listeners with Trains and Moonlight Destinies, a tribute to the ins and outs of love, fate, and wanderlust.

The band evolved from a duo project in drummer and vocalist Mike Ounallah’s basement. “I got together with a trombonist friend of mine because we were both obsessed with gypsy brass music from Romania and Serbia,” he recalls. They studied the repertoire, one that reminded Ounallah of his childhood listening to his father’s Arabic pop records.

It just got crazier from there. The duo expanded rapidly, finally finding a stable roster of skilled players and the instrumentation that captured the full energy of the music they loved. Along the way, they recruited versatile, gutsy vocalist Kirsten Long and everything from a tuba player to an electric guitarist.

They kept at the Balkan and Romany music, as “Chaje Shukaje” testifies, a cover of rousing number by Macedonian musical icon Esma Redzepova. They also expanded into new sounds, exploring other styles with brass at their core. “Once we got a full horn section, we could really dive into other genres,” explains Ounallah. “It’s a hodge-podge of influences, but our emphasis is really on the songwriting and an all-out dance party at shows.” Black Masala’s originals hit both elements head on, telling stories of powerful women, rascally dudes, raucous nights, and life on the road that are tinged with a hint of the fantastical, as the video for the title track reveals.

Pushing these tales forward are the horns, arranged by Ounallah and trombonist Kirsten Warfield. The horns add a slinky, strong, driving presence on our songs and play an upfront role in the songwriting,” Ounallah explains. “To play horns in Black Masala, you have to have your foot in a number of styles. We draw from anything that comes to mind so we’re fairly limitless in our approach.”

The stylistic openness can be heard all over Trains and Midnight Destinies. “Midnight Bhangra” takes cues from Punjabi-infused South Asian pop with a hearty dose of club music and synthwave, like Red Baraat jamming with Trent Reznor or Lazerhawk. “That’s my favorite track on the record,” laughs Ounallah. “We tracked each drum separately, working fast and just doing one take, each for a few minutes. We didn’t want any fills. Then we put the track together in an hour and added these spacey vocals,” over the bhangra bounce.

Sometimes, however, you need to slow it down to keep the party going. Channeling that universal poignancy of unrequited love, “Tell Me Again” plays that crucial role, a bittersweet answer to the slow dance. “We sat down at the piano in our rehearsal studio and came up with new harmonies and melodies, while we were playing around,” Long says. “It’s more melancholy, about missing someone and unrequited love. It’s downtempo but really driving with a groove.” Long, her voice always soulful, really digs in.

The whole band brings everything to their live shows, which have gained a bit of a reputation for their fever-pitched intensity. “We come out into the crowd, with horns surrounding everyone. We make the live show as interactive and entertaining as possible,” Long notes. “We’re always playing around with our songs, remixing them and working in covers,” everything from The Band to Gogol Bordello, “that we make our own. There’s something for everyone. Maybe you vibe with second line or funk or bhangra, but we try to make sure you can enjoy it all.”

“I love going to a show and being excited about it,” exclaims Ounallah. “I can’t wait for our shows, when we can get up there and just go wild.”

credits

released October 26, 2018

Recorded: Ben Green @ Ivakota (Washington, DC)
Art: Ordovich (ordovich.com)
Produced: Ben Green/ Michael Ounallah

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Black Masala Washington, D.C.

Can you hear that? It’s the sound of DC’s eclectic high energy brass band Black Masala. Formed in 2012, the band creates an irresistible dance groove packed with funk, gypsy punk, and soul. Black Masala has made a big impact as one of the most exciting live acts in the region and is the winner of four Washington, DC Area Music Awards including ‘Best New Artist’ and ‘Best World Music Album.’ ... more

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