Unbound

Bizhiki are two Native American pow wow singers Dylan Bizhikiins Jennings and Joe Rainey from the Ojibwe people, whose ancestral lands cover the Great Lakes and northern plains. On this intriguing debut they’re joined by singer-songwriter S Carey, who is also a member of non-native folk-rockers Bon Iver, who hail from the same Wisconsin region. If the thought of such a crossover collaboration evokes memories of the dismal Sacred Spirit album which became a chillout cult hit with the 1990s dance crowd, don’t be alarmed. Whereas that project seemed entirely exploitative of First Nation people, Unbound is built on mutual respect and a genuine dialogue, the ancient tradition of pow wow chants enhanced rather than humiliated by the addition of electronic samples and beats over such politically-charged lines such as ‘Just give us back our land, she’s all we have.’ Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon steps up to sing on ‘Gigawaabamin (Come Through)’ but his dulcet tones are not permitted to detract from the raw and earthy voices of Jennings and Rainey. Which is just as it should be.