Mas Aya – Still, Flowing Review

What does Mas Aya sound like?

A mixture of Andean folk and percussion, swirled in a slurry ice cream of jazz and electronic flavourings.

The review of ‘Still, Flowing’ by Mas Aya

Canadian drummer and multi-instrumentalist Mas Aya brings his percussive flair to the world stage once again with his new EP ‘Still Flowing’. The EP focuses on themes like family and spiritual purpose in order to find an internal flow that matches the world around you. To bring this to life creatively, Mas Aya turned to the South American and Caribbean folk music soundscape, merging ambient and jazz elements to create a swirling ice cream of musical flavours.

The mixture of unfurling jazzier elements means that tracks move in and out of jazz and Andean folk movements like musical tides. Opening track ‘Capullo’ is a seven-and-a-half-minute track that has tuned percussion tones glissandoing alongside all kinds of instruments before switching to different conga and bass lines for the rhythmic portions of the track. Add in some vibrant bird song and rainforest ambience, and you have a delightful classic. ‘Vamos Pa’Lante’ features Lido Pimienta on vocals for the most “single” and direct track on the EP. Throbbing Caribbean beats meet South American flute arrangements. Lido’s vocals sing of migrant resilience and command the Afro-Cuban and Latino mash-up of instruments with gusto. It’s a celebratory anthem for the divided times we find ourselves in.

‘Quietly Flowing Along’ is the ethereal jazz track of the release. Every instrument, from brushed cymbals and hand percussion to the trumpet and xylophone, tinkles along in a semi-freeform way. The instruments tumble in and out like water flowing downstream, or gushes of wind. It’s incredibly soothing and at times quite mysterious too. Despite the somewhat freeform nature of the song, everything is surprisingly tonal and kept to waves of musical energy. It feels purposeful and together – like the instruments are running in a pack. That helps the booming percussion of ‘Reflection’ really land for the closing track. This piece focuses on conga and then batá drums, whilst flutes and harmonium breathe the South American celebratory world to life. Beautiful and bountiful, the polyrhythms for the batá drums are hypnotic and uplifting.

Clocking in at just under 25 minutes, this is a 4-track EP that offers a wide range of sounds and ideas that make for compelling listening. Between the polyrhythms, flute arrangements, tuned percussion cosiness, and the Afro-Cuban sway, Mas Aya has crafted a superb and entrancing work. Uplifting and stylish, this is an EP I’ll return back to time and again to get my groove on whilst keeping a calmer, flow state in the jazzier moments.

Recommended track: Vamos Pa’Lente

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