Establishing the mood with an astral and dimensional synthscape, Lekursi opens Amarna Letters with intrigue and a high emotional quotient. The opus expands with melodic depth and the lyrics, “I know if I’m to speak, they’ll lock me away for keeps, but if I don’t free my mind, the whole world will burn…”
Textured percussion draws us in further with cosmic nuances and trippy detailing that feel psychedelic in nature as Lekursi repeats the poignant and assertive refrain, “The man he don’t own me… the man who serves the beast…”
The emergence of a sublime saxophone taps into a jazz adjacency with trip-hop loops as the soundscape builds for the second verse. We appreciate the intentional nature and the dynamism that manifests.
A sonic interlude entices us with cinematic flair that would fit perfectly in the new TV recreation of Interview with the Vampire before a third verse and middle eight, leading us through to a final refrain and dramatic ending.
For some backstory, the Amarna Letters are a significant archive of 14th-century BCE diplomatic clay tablets, written in cuneiform Akkadian, detailing correspondence between Egyptian pharaohs and Near Eastern rulers, revealing early international diplomacy, power dynamics, alliances and conflicts.
We learn that to create Amarna Letters, artist Lekursi, also known as Christian Licursi, draws from history and personal dreams inspired by Akhenaten, the unusual pharaoh of Egypt (c. 1351–1334 BCE).
Akhenaten promoted a solar-focused revolution, inviting us to abandon old gods in order to worship a single creator. This radical shift changed language and religious practice and is reflected in Lekursi‘s prose, and feels very zeitgeist. To manifest this message, Lekursi blends ancient and modern sounds to link past and present, and reflects a deep connection to his ancestral roots.
It is no surprise that Lekursi has already received support from the BBC for his unique work. We deeply connect with what the philosophically profound artist is creating, and have added Amarna Letters to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TRIPPY and TIMELESS playlists, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Lekursi, including Wildfire, and Morning Star.