A Sufi and a Killer
Encyclopedia
A Sufi and a Killer is the debut album by Gonjasufi
(Sumach Ecks). It was released by Warp on March 8, 2010. 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". 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".
described it as "a stunning, genre-transcending record" and "a terrific, trippy adventure". 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 Bjork or Tom Waits", and calling the album "a fascinating glimpse of a character continually in transition". The Guardian
called it "one of the strangest and most eclectic records you'll hear all year", and "an album that practically has a green smog drifting above it". Clash
gave it 7/10, stating "repeated plays reveal an irresistible talent". 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".
Gonjasufi
Gonjasufi is a rapper, singer, disc jockey and yoga teacher from San Diego, California and currently living in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ecks was born to a Mexican mother and an American-Ethiopian father. He has been releasing music since the early 1990s among the San Diego Hip Hop scene, notably with...
(Sumach Ecks). It was released by Warp on March 8, 2010. The album was produced by Flying Lotus
Flying Lotus
Flying Lotus, is an experimental multi-genre music producer from Winnetka, California. His debut album, 1983, was released on Plug Research Records in 2006...
, The Gaslamp Killer
The Gaslamp Killer
The Gaslamp Killer is a Los Angeles-based DJ who releases material through Brainfeeder, the record label of Flying Lotus. Bensussen grew up in San Diego, California, where he began listening to Too Short, Jimi Hendrix, and Dr. Dre...
, 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". Of its title he said "The Sufi
Dervish
A Dervish or Darvesh is someone treading a Sufi Muslim ascetic path or "Tariqah", known for their extreme poverty and austerity, similar to mendicant friars in Christianity or Hindu/Buddhist/Jain sadhus.-Etymology:The Persian word darvīsh is of ancient origin and descends from a Proto-Iranian...
side of life has helped me with my killer side so I try not to attach myself to any label. There's a Sufi
Dervish
A Dervish or Darvesh is someone treading a Sufi Muslim ascetic path or "Tariqah", known for their extreme poverty and austerity, similar to mendicant friars in Christianity or Hindu/Buddhist/Jain sadhus.-Etymology:The Persian word darvīsh is of ancient origin and descends from a Proto-Iranian...
and a killer in everybody, man, and I'll be whatever I have to be just to make it through".
Reception
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". The BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
described it as "a stunning, genre-transcending record" and "a terrific, trippy adventure". Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
gave the album 7/10, describing Ecks' voice as "a hugely versatile instrument, every bit as unique and distinctive as that of Bjork or Tom Waits", and calling the album "a fascinating glimpse of a character continually in transition". The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
called it "one of the strangest and most eclectic records you'll hear all year", and "an album that practically has a green smog drifting above it". Clash
Clash (magazine)
Clash is a popular music and fashion magazine based in the United Kingdom. Its magazine title is published 12 times a year. It has a circulation of around 40,000....
gave it 7/10, stating "repeated plays reveal an irresistible talent". PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
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".
Track listing
All songs written by Gonjasufi.- Untitled [(Bharatanatyam)] – 0:55
- "Kobwebz" – 2:13
- "Ancestors" – 2:36
- "Sheep" – 4:03
- "She Gone." – 2:45
- "SuzieQ" – 1:44
- "Stardustin'" – 1:04
- "Kowboyz&Indians" – 2:43
- "Change" – 2:04
- "Duet" – 3:06
- "Candylane" – 2:07
- "Holidays" – 3:57
- "Love of Reign" – 2:39
- "Advice" – 2:45
- "Klowds" – 3:28
- "Ageing" – 2:42
- "DedNd" – 3:38
- "I've Given" – 3:35
- "Made" – 10:45
- Contains a hidden track "Dobermins", starting at 8:22