A Sufi and a Killer

A Sufi and a Killer is the debut studio album by Gonjasufi (Sumach Ecks). It was released by Warp on March 8, 2010.[1] The album was produced by Flying Lotus, The Gaslamp Killer, and Mainframe.

A Sufi and a Killer
Studio album by Gonjasufi
Released	March 8, 2010 (2010-03-08)
Genre	Alternative hip hop experimental psychedelic rock lo-fi
Length	58:49
Label	Warp
Producer	The Gaslamp Killer Flying Lotus Mainframe
Gonjasufi chronology
A Sufi and a Killer (2010) The Caliph's Tea Party (2012)

Ecks said of the album: "I didn't want it to be too easy for the listener. I wanted it to hurt a little bit. I wanted it to get into a spot in the head that hasn't been hit".[2] Of its title he said "The Sufi side of life has helped me with my killer side so I try not to attach myself to any label. There's a Sufi and a killer in everybody, man, and I'll be whatever I have to be just to make it through".[3]

Reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	7.5/10[4]
Metacritic	78/100[5]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
Clash	7/10[7]
The Guardian	[8]
The Irish Times	[9]
Mojo	[10]
MusicOMH	[11]
Pitchfork	8.4/10[12]
PopMatters	6/10[13]
Q	[14]
Uncut	[15]

At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, A Sufi and a Killer received an average score of 78 based on 16 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[5] At AnyDecentMusic?, which collates critical reviews from more than 50 media sources, the album scored 7.5 points out of 10, based on 18 reviews.[4]

The album garnered much positive critical coverage on its release. AllMusic's Jason Lymangrover gave the album four stars out of five, describing it as "weird, ‘60s-rooted, psychedelic hip-hop", sounding "like if J. Dilla produced George Clinton after visiting with the Dalai Lama, or if Dan the Automator recorded Cody Chesnutt after the two shared a plate of magic mushrooms", and calling it "truly visionary".[6] The BBC described it as "a stunning, genre-transcending record" and "a terrific, trippy adventure".[16] Drowned in Sound gave the album 7/10, describing Ecks' voice as "a hugely versatile instrument, every bit as unique and distinctive as that of Björk or Tom Waits", and calling the album "a fascinating glimpse of a character continually in transition".[2] The Guardian called it "one of the strangest and most eclectic records you'll hear all year",[3] and "an album that practically has a green smog drifting above it".[8] Clash gave it 7/10, stating "repeated plays reveal an irresistible talent".[7] PopMatters gave it 6/10, with reviewer David Amidon stating "I've listened to this album a lot just trying to make sense of it...and have walked away mostly pleased".[13]

A Sufi and a Killer ranked at number 41 on Tiny Mix Tapes' "Favorite 50 Albums of 2010" list.[17] It ranked at number 14 on The Wire's "2010 Rewind" list.[18]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Gonjasufi.

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Untitled (Bharatanatyam)"	The Gaslamp Killer	0:55
2.	"Kobwebz"	The Gaslamp Killer	2:13
3.	"Ancestors"	Flying Lotus	2:36
4.	"Sheep"	The Gaslamp Killer	4:03
5.	"She Gone"	The Gaslamp Killer	2:45
6.	"SuzieQ"	The Gaslamp Killer	1:44
7.	"Stardustin"	The Gaslamp Killer	1:04
8.	"Kowboyz&Indians"	The Gaslamp Killer	2:43
9.	"Change"	The Gaslamp Killer	2:04
10.	"Duet"	The Gaslamp Killer	3:06
11.	"Candylane"	Mainframe	2:07
12.	"Holidays"	Mainframe	3:57
13.	"Love of Reign"	Mainframe	2:39
14.	"Advice"	Mainframe	2:45
15.	"Klowds"	The Gaslamp Killer	3:28
16.	"Ageing"	The Gaslamp Killer	2:42
17.	"DedNd"	The Gaslamp Killer	3:38
18.	"I've Given"	The Gaslamp Killer	3:35
19.	"Made / Dobermins"	The Gaslamp Killer	10:45
Total length:			58:49

Charts

Chart (2010)	Peak position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[19]	55
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[20]	98
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[21]	33

References

1. "Gonjasufi: A Sufi and a Killer". Warp. Archived from the original on March 23, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
2. Gibb, Tom (March 3, 2010). "Album Review: Gonjasufi – A Sufi and a Killer". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
3. Meer, Malik (March 6, 2010). "Gonjasufi – the electro Hendrix". The Guardian. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
4. "A Sufi And A Killer by Gonjasufi reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
5. "Reviews for A Sufi And A Killer by Gonjasufi". Metacritic. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
6. Lymangrover, Jason. "A Sufi and a Killer – Gonjasufi". AllMusic. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
7. Annan, Nick (February 26, 2010). "Gonjasufi – A Sufi and a Killer". Clash. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
8. Dean, Will (March 4, 2010). "Gonjasufi: A Sufi and a Killer". The Guardian. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
9. Carroll, Jim (March 12, 2010). "Gonjasufi". The Irish Times. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
10. "Gonjasufi: A Sufi and a Killer". Mojo (197): 105. April 2010.
11. Hogwood, Ben (March 8, 2010). "Gonjasufi – A Sufi And A Killer". MusicOMH. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
12. Patrin, Nate (March 4, 2010). "Gonjasufi: A Sufi and a Killer". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
13. Amidon, David (April 5, 2010). "Gonjasufi: A Sufi and a Killer". PopMatters. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
14. "Gonjasufi: A Sufi and a Killer". Q (285): 111. April 2010.
15. "Gonjasufi: A Sufi and a Killer". Uncut (155): 90. April 2010.
16. Parkin, Chris (March 9, 2010). "Gonjasufi A Sufi and a Killer Review". BBC Music. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
17. "2010: Favorite 50 Albums of 2010 (50–41)". Tiny Mix Tapes. December 17, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
18. "2010 Rewind". The Wire. January 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
19. "Ultratop.be – Gonjasufi – A Sufi & A Killer" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
20. "Ultratop.be – Gonjasufi – A Sufi & A Killer" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
21. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 16, 2018.

External links

• A Sufi and a Killer at Discogs (list of releases)