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Spoek Mathambo Announces New Album ‘Father Creeper’

December 7, 2011 Leave a comment

South African afro-futurist Spoek Mathambo has announced the release of his sophomore album Father Creeper. He hints that the new work — recorded in South Africa, USA, and Sweden — will feature “bigger arrangements, [plus himself] getting hand-on with the production, and delivering a more personal album.” Look for it March 13 from Sub Pop Records!

In other news, Spoek will soon release a covers collection of ”South African classics form the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s.” It will feature vocals from SA acts The Frown, Dirty Paraffin, Syntax and BFG. Stream and download Father Creeper‘s first single “Put Some Red On It,” produced by CHLLNGR and penned by Gnucci Banana, below.

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Audio: Spoek Mathambo’s Afrika21 Mixtape

December 2, 2011 1 Comment

Spoek Mathambo colludes with Society HAE for Afrika21 Mixtape Vol. 3. Spoek streamlines through past and current continent cuts from Okayafrica favorites Just A Band, Baloji, Zakee, BIG FKN GUN, Art Melody, BLK JKS, Nneka, and plenty others. Stream and grab it below! (via SHAE)

TRACKLIST
1. Manifesto
2. Tonight – Popskarr (South Africa)
3. Fire Dance – Seun Kuti (Nigeria)
4. Mikono Kwenya Hewa (version fiesta) – Muthoni The Drummer Queen (Kenya)
5. Beauty Shop – Thabile Rasa (South Africa)
6. Vem Rebola – Gregor Salto (Brazil)
7. Windeck – Cabo Snoop (Angola)
8. Ratanang – Das Kapital (South Africa)
9. Dope Girl – Zakee (Senegal)
10. Pop Models – Big Fkn Gun (South Africa)
11. Ubusuku – Jumping Back Slash (South Africa)
12. Afreeka (King Armatelo) – Art Melody (Burkina Faso)
13. The Rise – Zakee (Senegal)
14. Flight of The Robin – Das Kapital (South Africa)
15. Gwababa (DJ Mpula remix) – Spoek Mathambo feat. Avuyile and Yolanda (South Africa)
16. Beog Kamba – Art Melody (Burkina Faso)
17. Jol Vol (wavy x chopped edit) – Isaak Mutant (South Africa)
18. Filaw – Chief Boima (Sierra Leone)
19. City Staccs remix – Lamin Fofana (Sierra Leone)
20. Venison Collection Squad – Nicolaas Van Reenen (South Africa)
21. Whoop That Ass! – Nombolo#1 (South Africa)
22. 808 – Iyadede (Rwanda)
23. Makhathini – Nombolo#1 (South Africa)
24. Burning Bush Everybody – Nneka (Nigeria)
25. Ndekha (remix) – The Very Best & Moroka feat. Thandiswa Mazwai, Spoek Mathambo, Mo Laudi (Malawi/Sweden/South Africa)
26. Tout Ceci Ne Vous Rendre Pas Le Congo – Baloji (Democratic Republic of Congo)
27. Boogly Woogly – The Brother Moves On (South Africa)
28. Tselane – Blk Jks (South Africa)
29. Dog To Bone – Spoek Mathambo (South Africa)
30. Dreamer’s Soundtrack – Just a Band (Kenya)
31. Mara Hio Hio – Sauti Sol feat. General Pype & Sasha (Kenya)

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Photos: Synchronized Swimming Set To Spoek Mathambo

November 22, 2011 1 Comment

This Sunday night we peeped South African artist Athi-Patra Ruga‘s much-talked-about synchronized swimming performance. Ruga worked with Spoek Mathambo to create the soundtrack for the project. ‘Ilulwane‘ is Ruga’s first performance in NYC and was “inspired by Alvin Baltrop‘s 1970s and 80s photographs. It reflects on the passage of time in both New York and in the artist’s own Xhosa culture, drawing on themes of Xhosa initiation ceremonies, the AIDS crisis, and challenging definitions of masculinity.”

The lighting was ominous and the air was thick with the smell of chlorine. Click here for a thorough description of the show. Check out our photos by OKA contributor Ardavon Fatehi and imagine Mathambo’s electronic drones soothing you into a dark state of mind.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

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Video/Audio: Adam Tensta ft. Spoek Mathambo ‘The Monkey’ + Spoek & Gnucci Banana Mixtape

October 17, 2011 Leave a comment

Here’s a two-fold from our favorite ghetto-futurist South African Spoek Mathambo. In the clip above, Spoek holds down the chorus for swedish rapper Adam Tensta‘s “The Monkey” — a club ready Ed Bang-ing synth jam. Below, stream the 52-minute Pero Spicey mixtape Spoek and significant other Gnucci Banana crafted for Nike Sportswear Sweden, it features all the sci-fi afro/electro sounds we imagine regularly haunt the Mathambo/Banana household.

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Audio: Spoek Mathambo’s ‘Put Some Red On It’ EP – Free DL!

September 27, 2011 Leave a comment

Spoek Mathambo creates a rare breed of progressive electronic music that most of us could only think up in syrup-induced Gondry-esque dreams. For his latest Put Some Red On It EP the Jozi artist enlists help from Copenhagen’s CHLLNGR and prolific drummer Zach Hill, as well as remixes from the likes of Shabazz Palaces, Telepathe and Machinedrum. Download the free EP plus remixes for the price of an e-mail below. (via FADER)

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Video + Audio: Spoek Mathambo & Cerebral Vortex “Drunk Like That” (Douster Remix)

August 30, 2011 Leave a comment

Thanks to the good people over at RCRDLBL, we get this fresh Douster remix of “Drunk Like That” by Spoek Mathambo and Cerebral Vortex. As big fans of Spoek’s South African electro-dance vibe, we were excited to see Frenchie remix-master Douster on the bill, giving us a chance to focus on Spoek’s skills as an MC. Along with Cerebral Vortex, both MCs go in on this one, ordering the listener to take “shots” (both the alcoholic and the gun kind) – it’s all a bigger ironic metaphor we’re sure – uh, or maybe it’s just a great party song – either way we just like singing along. This mix and others can be found on the Drunk Like EP, which is out today (August 30) on Little Owl Recordings. For the original, check out the video above.

Listen here and head to RCRDLBL to download.

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Sunday: Live From The Continent at Lincoln Center

August 5, 2011 Leave a comment

New Yorkers: this Sunday get a whole lotta’ new Africa at Lincoln Center Out of Doors (go Bill! go Bill! go Bill!) FREE with some of our personal faves Spoek Mathambo (South Africa) and DJ Boima (US/Sierra Leone) along with the ever-tastic Blitz the Ambassador (Ghana), Iyadede (Rwanda), and the Ahficionados (US).

Deets:
Live From the Continent
Sun, Aug 7 at 7:30
Damrosch Park Bandshell at Lincoln Center

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Video & Audio: CHLLNGR “The End” & “Haven” + Tour Dates

August 2, 2011 Leave a comment

CHLLNGR is fast becoming Okayafrica’s favorite Danish producer… not that we’ve got an extensive list of Denmark’s finest DJs, but considering CHLLNGR’s work with Spoek Mathambo it’s hard to imagine another Dane claiming the throne. CHLLNGR’s debut album Haven recently dropped, and his latest single should give you some more insight into the maddening electronic rabbit hole that is CHLLNGR’s mind. “The End” features vocals from Ghanaian born, Brooklyn dwelling Dragons of Zynth’s Aku (another OKA fave), distorted vocals, and enough dissonant digital rhythms to make you think you’ve slipped inside the dreams of a drug addled android. Coupled with CHLLNGR’s own mechanized vocals on the hyper title track “Haven,” I’m starting to believe that this guy doesn’t just push the envelope, he kicks its ass and takes its lunch money.

For those of you living in the New York, you’ll have the chance to see CHLLNGR in action later this month. He’ll be at Piano’s with Sherlock’s Daughter and Rare Child on August 10, and at Glasslands with Teachers on August 13. More tour dates will be announced in the coming months, including some performances with label-mate Spoek Mathambo. Also, catch Dragons of Zynth live in Brooklyn on August 12th, also at Glasslands. Listen to “Haven” below.

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Audio: CHLLNGR’s Title Track “Haven”

June 30, 2011 Leave a comment

We first posted about CHLLNGR, a Copenhagen-based producer signed to our buddies over at Green Owl Records, when he dropped the track “Ask For” featuring Spoek Mathambo, The Very Best’s Mo Laudi, and Blk Jks’ Mpumi Mcata. The eerie, dubby sounds continue here in this “goosebump-triggering” title track off his new project “Haven,” listen below. Vocal contributions on the album include performances from Coco O. of Quadron and Aku from Dragons of Zynth. Check for the full project which will be in stores July 5th.

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Audio: Spoek Mathambo “Put Some Red On It”- FREE

June 28, 2011 Leave a comment

South African producer/DJ/rapper-singer/all-around-music-maker Spoek Mathambo was recently signed in the U.S. by Seattle label Sub Pop. Thanks to our friends over at The Fader, we get the 1st track off his upcoming EP, “Put Some Red On It” below (FREE download!). The off-kilter rhythms, heavy bass and low-fi sounding synths mesh with Spoek’s unique off-key singing and fresh raps for a kind of addictive track. Word is the EP will also include a remix from label-mates Shabazz Palaces and a Telepathe remix. Keep it comin!

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Spoek Mathambo

The CIA might have to investigate the possibility of South African time-travel technology, because Spoek Mathambo is almost certainly from the future. The 25 year old rapper, DJ, graphic artist, and illustrator is taking the South African music scene on a cosmic sonic journey that can only be described as Afro-Futurism and glam-rap. This style-savvy artist from Soweto has become a major purveyor of South African club music, and just might be The Rainbow Nation’s rhythmic equivalent of Andy Warhol.