Zaska - It Takes A Village

Zaska - It Takes A Village

Let’s play a game of odds, shall we? What are the odds of you ever being born in the first place? Astronomically, not that great. Now, that you're born, let’s get you out your Bavarian homeland to Co. Wicklow. Even more far fetched? Bare with me. Now that you’re settled, what are the odds that you’ll grow up to be a maestro guitarist/composer, work with every big musical name in your country (Hozier, Wyvern Lingo and BARQ to name a few) and crowdfund an entire debut album along the way?

Statistically, this should be impossible. Just don’t tell Zaska.

The Bohemian/Westport native known for his blend of funk, jazz, R&B and blues has been a staple in Irish culture for nearly a decade, leaving fingerprints on many of the more successful names you care to think of. It Takes A Village is the musicians first try at a debut album, and it is a pleasurable oddity. An outsider may scoff at the idea of a neo-soul, jazz-fusion album crafted in the hills of the Irish west coast. After all, it’s not exactly a hotbed for musical experimentation, (a sentiment the songster seems to echo - “Entered the world an awkward shape, misfit in every way, my fate”). And yet, a €14,000 crowd investment and sold out album launch party is as potent a disagreement I can think of. But can Zaska translate years of experience and influences into a cohesive product?

It Takes… opens, largely, as it means to go on. A grand curtain rise is accompanied by a smooth brass fanfare. A Motown chorus line serenades our protagonist. As the music builds, you can imagine his sequinned simian gate as he lopes on stage. A jazz-blues fusion guitar solo begins and builds and builds and cuts out. An alarm buzzes. It was all a dream. This playful grandiose nature, framed by a baroque orchestration of instrumentals, soaring vocals and an uncompromising rooting in real-world circumstances are all essential components of the reality of It Takes... Doesn't seem too bad if I'm honest.

Thematically, It Takes… encapsulates the planned chaos of jazz, the uniform mania of funk, and uses it to illustrate the months, weeks and days leading up to and after the birth of Zaska’s first child. A metaphor for the emotions in his head, as he takes in the expectations of creating a family, this journey is laden with proof of his reputation as a virtuoso guitarist. Varying between soothing foggy bridges and rock slide riffs, Zaska’s use of his guitar to dictate mood changes colours much of the albums aura. Whether this is the bluesy whine of 'SWAN' or the liquid, psychedelic uncertainty of 'U'.

 More impressively, however, is Zaskas mastery of illusion and misdirection. One moment you’ll be zoned in of a wave of echoing guitar reverberation, whilst a slow building chorus of trumpets crouches like a panther, springing on you as you least expect it. As you turn to face the beast, a gentle soulful croon may tickle your lobes, or a southpaw of delicate keys will caress your shoulders. This concoction of instrumentation and vocalisations forms the bedrock of his neo-soul ethos, and it is an absolutely bursting with intelligence, complexity and mystery. Like Theseus mapping his progress with string for others to follow, tracing a strand through the It Takes… labyrinth of electrifying guitar, chunky funk and bluesy realism can lead you to any number of other-worldly curiosities. 

Despite, however, the complexities of It Takes the emotional core is perhaps much more simple and far less grand. In fact, it's effectively staring you in the face, just look at the title. It’s about community. Relationships. Family. The project was funded by fans, and the lyrics almost entirely deal with the Zaska’s links to his partner and their future together.  Strip it all back and it's astoundingly raw. 

For instance, the aptly named ‘Doubt' is lyrically light, save for the repetition of “Its a new phase”. A flurry of frenetic drums and a tense score highlights the all too familiar “WTF AM I GOING TO DO” fear that accompanies seismic change. The paranoia of ‘Perspective’ is a stark, sparse musical juxtaposition to the rest of the album, while the affectionate swoon of following number ‘Final Push’ is no accident. The juttering blurt of the guitar and gradually ratcheting crescendo is symbolic of both labour and birth. The spoken word monologue and absolute instrumental silence that follows the delivery is as symbolic as the album allows itself to be. Music takes a back seat, for maybe the first time ever.

Poetic and subtle at times, bombastic in other, brimming with soul, lust, love and life, It Takes A Village is a landmark release by one of Ireland's premier musicians. To pick a favourite track seems genuinely sinful. The revolutionary groove of ‘It’s Ridiculous’, the sly eye contact and warmth of ‘My Body’ or the uplifting temporal swing of ‘Cannot Will Not’ are all monumental in scope, and yet are on par with nearly every other tune on the album. An uncomplicated emotional centre walled by a legion of hip swaying, heartbreaking composition, Zaska’s emotional peaks and pitfalls belong to himself and everyone simultaneously. Fittingly, he ends on a straightforward note. As the outro of ‘Village’ fades, you are addressed directly: “Thanks so much everybody.”

Our pleasure.