
Murk 108 - The Parallel Universes of Murk 108
By Marigold Shale (photography by Duncan Cole), NZ Musician June/July 2005 (Vol:12, No:3)
Murk 108, aka Ahmen Mahal, may well be best known for his work under the guise of Captain Imon Star as part of Nuvonesia with Mark de Clive-Loweand DJ Manuel Bundy. Others might be familiar with the multi-talented Wellingtonian through his MCing for The Roots Foundation or his role of MC, producer and instrumentalist for Rhombus. Or then there's Olmecha Supreme of which he is the solo MC and instrumentalist.
While juggling all these personas and projects Ahmen managed to find time to put together his debut album under the guise of Murk 108. Titled 'The Murkone LP', it was released in May through Auckland label Sugarlicks Recordings. The album, which mixes elements of conscious hip hop and reggae, "chronicles the growth and journey of a young Rasta".
Ahmen's many characters give a clue to the depth and varying personalities of his work. A self-confessed comic book fan, Murk 108 is based on the Rainbow Bright character Murky Dismal, Murk 108 being the mercenary of all Ahmen's MC characters as well as the name for his individual projects.
Captain Imon Star (Rhombus, Nuvonesia) of the star ship Nuvonesia Majestic is trapped in a strange dimension that is folding in on itself, and he is forced to mercenary for survival. Thus he adopts the call sign Murk 108 and unites with the aging technology to become Olmecha and Olmecha Supreme.
"I'm an artist, I'm trying to craft universes out of all these things. I might have too much time to myself," he offers as an explanation.
Breaking the mould of compilations and other releases that he has previously been involved in, 'The Murkone LP' reflects the 27 years of Ahmen's real life. It has been an opportunity to display his individual talents, as well as being a gateway to the universe he has been working towards.
A solo album, the sound of his sister's (Deva Mahal) voice can be faintly heard, as can the sounds of Wellington, Thames and Hawaii - the locations where the album was recorded. Original inspiration comes from his extensive musical background; growing up with his father Taj Mahal's influence, writing theme songs for his transformers as a child and studying music synthesis at Boston's Berkley School of Music. Ahmen may well play the bass, saxophone, keys, drums and guitar - skills that are apparent throughout - but the MPC 2000XL is now his tool of choice and the major instrument from which the album was created.
Crafted with a specific protocol in mind 'The Murkone LP' is indeed a mercenary release. "I have to do things in really mercenary ways with absolute abandon and use whatever is there."
Using Imac, Logic 4.5, a Yamaha YK11 drum synth, a mini keyboard, Fernandez strat and an Ibanez Roadstar bass as well as the trusty, beat up MPC, 'The Murkone LP' is, by his own admission, a low-fi affair - his protocol based on a "found sound environment".
The album is his first attempt at actual production, with 1999's Capsule made on MPC and recorded directly to an 8-track reel to reel. Edited basically, and without sound editing, Capsule was signed to Loop Recordings and included on a compilation release. Re-recorded for the album, alongside Letnawphshawts (Ahmen's winning creation from the MPC competition in 2003), the tracks maintain the integrity of his attitude towards this, his first individual project.
The consciously left-of-centre album is a work of a lifetime. Ahmen is the first to admit that he has a problem drawing borders or working to a timeline.
"I had this brilliant idea that I wanted to release my first album only when I had recorded several billion other albums, so this is my first release of several billion.
"Different in scope and light years ahead in terms of its contemporaries," this album is the place where he plays out his dreams. A personal fan of the album, Ahmen says he has been listening to it in his head for his whole life.
"I see a huge picture, imagine omnipotence and multiply that exponentially. That's where I'm headed."
It was important that the project remained solo, as multi-dimensional as the album is, Ahmen had a goal and an idea of what he wanted to create.
"It's huge, I'm creating a whole universe and it's something that could take a good chunk of my life. I expect it to open people's minds and be a good opening statement - the door through which people can view the galaxy and dimensions that I am trying to create."
Released on Sugarlicks, rather than his own label Beat World Records which has released Olmecha singles Apocalypso (2003) and Schematica (2003, the delayed album builds on Ahmen's other strengths and his releases as Olmecha Supreme. Sugarlicks also released singles Vitality (2002) and Letnawphshawts (2004), and reflects his passion for the world inside the music. While there are limitations with two independents working together, especially when it comes with having the budget to release singles, the pairing are focused on 'The Murkone LP' as a whole.
Murk 108 is somewhat dependent on the bNets for support, reliant on the success of the previously released singles and an upcoming video for Letnawphshawts to push the album. Ahmen was determined that the video, produced by Michael Lucas, would not cancel out people's imagination and is "how I could see it in my head". Ahmen hopes the video will also provide some separation from his work with Rhombus, a group that has received much popularity thanks in large part to their extensive video plays.
With the release of 'The Murkone LP' underway, Ahmen is now working towards a band to support his album release tour, something he would like to see take place between the new moon and the full moon in June. Murk 108 also looks forward to the release of 'Digital Pimp', a collaborative compilation due out this year on Sugarlicks while Captain Imon Star eagerly awaits the release of the second Rhombus album also expected in June.
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