Battle Hymns of the Republic

MAST’s Battle Hymns of the Republic is a highly imaginative dissident’s brew addressing urgent environmental and socio-political issues. Moving orchestral arrangements, poignant spoken word, impassioned jazz language, angular electronic beats and samples reflect on present-day battles for unity, equality, facts, justice and empathy.

Each track—or “hymn”—considers attacks on who and what the United States claims to be, while asking what responsibility we hold toward one another and the wider global community. The album is a spiritual protest against misinformation, fascist ideologies, institutional racism and denial of climate change.

Dwight Trible layers proverbs, quotations and original writing throughout “Benevolence.” Jimetta Rose contributes the exploratory “All of the Colors,” a deep examination of race in America. Andrée Belle appears on “The Golden Door,” pairing Emma Lazarus’s 1883 poem with original text.

Featuring

Andrée Belle · Dwight Trible · Jimetta Rose · Luis Mascara · Artyom Manukyan · Dan Rosenboom · Gavin Templeton · Brian Marsella · Jason Fraticelli · Anwar Marshall · Maxwell Hallett

Track listing

1. Affirmation
2. Call to Action
3. The Anti-Fascist Battle Hymn
4. The Golden Door (feat. Andrée Belle)
5. Nation of Immigrants
6. Civil Disobedience
7. Benevolence (feat. Dwight Trible)
8. Nation of Refugees
9. Their Fear of Diversity
10. All of the Colors (feat. Jimetta Rose)
11. Hymn
12. I Pledge My Grievance to the Flag
13. Diaspora of Climate Change
14. Psalm for All Tomorrows

Personnel & credits

Label: World Galaxy / Alpha Pup Records
Release: January 29, 2021

Timothy Conley — composer, guitar, bass, keys, beats, production
Andrée Belle — vocals (4, 5)
Dwight Trible — vocals (7, 8)
Jimetta Rose — vocals (9, 10)
Luis Mascara — violin (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13)
Artyom Manukyan — cello (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13)
Dan Rosenboom — trumpet (2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 14)
Gavin Templeton — alto and baritone saxophone (2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 14)
Brian Marsella — keyboards (3, 8, 9, 12, 14)
Jason Fraticelli — upright bass (2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14)
Anwar Marshall — drums (1, 3, 6)
Maxwell Hallett — drums (14)

Artwork & coverage