Quixotic

Al Brooker was the young guitarist of the band Gwei–lo, who Bella Union signed in early 2000. Just before their debut album was released that summer, he collapsed and died of a heart attack on stage at the Strawberry Fair in Cambridge. Gwei–lo was a fascinating band made up of four unique individuals and many often wonder what they would have come up with next. But now, as the second anniversary of Brooker’s passing is upon us, Bella Union have put together an absorbing collection of recordings that he had been working on at the time of his death. In close collaboration with both Gwei–lo and Brooker’s family, this CD is full of all the favorite tunes. His love of dub, hip hop, electronics and trashy gui-tars is gloriously evident.