Dub infusing Techno producer and co founder of Basic Channel, Mark Ernestus is following his heartbeat and taking a solid crack at producing speedy Senegalese Mbalax music. Mark Ernestus Presents Jeri-Jeri is the first 12″ release on his new imprint, Ndagga, and features Bakane Seck and Mbene Diatta Seck. The A side claims the original, ‘Mbueguel Dafa Nekh’ while the B is the Sabar drum-centric dub version. Snatch the vinyl here, and listen to the tease below.
Kindred Spirits released this fresh compilation of the best of Guelewar, the Gambian psych band who released records from 1979-1982. Touki Ba Banjul: Acid Trip From Banjul To Dakar is packed with deep psychedelic jams spread out over 2 discs. Their unique sound was the product of their earlier band, the Super Alligators who is known for mixing western soul and funk with traditional and regional rhythms like boogaraboo and sawrouba in the early 70s. Hear album cuts “Sama Yaye Demma N’Dar” and “Kele Fasane” below. Grab the record and hear more tunes over at Kindred Spirits.
Guelewar “Sama Yaye Demma N’Dar”
Guelewar “Kele Fasane”
Wax On is a new series in which we highlight new Afrofuturist — modern African electronic — vinyl releases, in this installement we feature Boomarm Nation family Gulls’ remix of Tuareg guitarist Mdou Moctar.
Mdou Moctar’s tune “Tahoultine” has traveled a long distance since 2009 when it initially hit the streets in West Africa. A year later Chris Kirkley added it to his Music from Saharan Cellphones compilation, and this year the song takes a new jaunt into the land of the 7″ that includes a remix from Gulls. The Tahoultine remix is the gem for me, with low-fi vocals, bass conscious 4-to-the-floor beat and a touch of ambient synth to chill -out and already chill track. You can thank Sahel Sounds and Boomarm Nation for this newly mastered edition but there are only 500 copies so get this before it disappears like a mirage.
Parisian Producers Jess and Crabbe are getting Bazzerk again and this time it’s the Coupe Decale sound they are crazy about on their latest release, Bazzerk.Yrslf Logobi Special EP — in association with B.YRSLF Division. Heavy kicks, rave-synths, fast rhythms and memorable instrumental hooks will put you in a trace on the dance floor. You can listen and download the free EP below but try not to hurt .yrslf while listening.
Frank Gossner of the acclaimed Voodoo Funk parties — and now label — is back from his travels with fresh vinyl and a new Nigerian Funk mix intended to “lighten up these gray days of winter.” New Yorkers: Gossner will be spinning his new findings at Williamsburg jazz cave Zebulon Cafe tonight! See all details on the flyer below.
Thomas Mapfumo‘s 1986 track “Shumba” gets an extended edit from Dan Snaith’s (aka Caribou) side project, Daphni. Thomas Mapfumo is one of Zimbabwe’s most notable music icons who incorporated traditional Shona songs with political lyrics in his Chimurenga music and was a threat to the minority white Zimbabwae (Rhodesia) government for the years leading up to its independence in 1980. This extra long edit gets a solid 4/4 beat and extended breaks making it an infinite jam highlighted by gorgeous guitars. The flip side is worth a listen as well.
Wax On is a new series in which we highlight new Afrofuturist — modern African electronic — vinyl releases, in our first installement we feature DJ Rashad & Spinn and RP Boo‘s Shangaan remixes.
Chicago finally comes to Shangaan thanks to Honest Jons‘ December release of Shangaan Shake: DJ Rashad & Spinn/RP Boo. This latest addition of Shangaan remixes is an uncanny fit — Chicago footwork style seamlessly mixes with its distant and unrelated relative, Shangaan Electro, both with their 160 bpm speed and complex use of drum machines. On the A-side DJ Rashad & Spinn go to town on the Tshetsha Boys with a hard, speedy bass while RP Boo goes halftime-banger-feel on some exquisitely chopped Shangaan Electro vocals on the B-side. African-Diaspora collective-consciousness at its most contemporary. The release also boasts locked groove stabs for all you mix masters out there.
R.P. Boo Meets Shangaan Electro (clip) by Honest Jons
I’ve been looking for some solid remixes of Bon Iver to DJ out and was happy to be handed this one of 20 year old South African producer and DJ Das Kapital. With ‘Skinny Love’, a proper jam for this time of year, Kapital maintains the tune’s original integrity and loops some of its best instrumental parts while adding a clubby stomp, hard snare, and choppy vocals. Let this track be an introduction to the crunch that is Das Kapital.
Bon Iver – Skinny Love (Das Kapital Rerub) [DL LINK IN COMMENTS] by Das Kapital
Self-described as “if Congotronics were fronted by Morrissey,” Los Angeles Afro-Global noise makers Fool’s Gold collective can reach up to 16 members — all playing African inspired rhythms over contemporary pop composition. The group was formed when Luke Top and lead guitarist Lewis Pesacov, “set out to explore their shared love of various forms of African music (specifically Congolese, Ethiopan, Eritrean and Malian), Krautrock, and 80s dance influenced pop music.” ‘Surprise Hotel’ is an ultra twangy sun-drenched jam with wild dance beat, and a fitting video. Check it out for yourself above.
Okayafrica TV: Janka Nabay and The Bubu Gang
“From Reggae to Bubu,” jokes Janka Nabay about the history of his roots with Sierra Leonean Bubu music. Janka had just come from his home in D.C. when we met him at Zebulon to discuss his new releases, tour, and the Bubu Gang vibe. As the story goes, he was performing reggae at a battle of the bands when the groups were asked if they knew any traditional Sierra Leonean songs. Janka performed an off-the-cuff version of an old Bubu tune and the judges went nuts. The rest is Bubu history. Janka recently put out An Letah EP on True Panther and is awaiting his debut full-length with David Byrne‘s Luaka Bop imprint. Watch him and the Bubu Gang’s lightening-fast rhythm section in the video above. And catch them live at these locations below.
JANKA NABAY TOUR DATES
3/14-17- SXSW
*** official showcase is globalFEST on the 16th, 8pm***
3/18 – Denton, TX @ Rubbergloves
3/22 – Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Festival
3/24 – Denver, CO @ Hi Dive
3/25 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
3/26 – Milwaukee, WI @ Mad Planet
3/27 – Muncie, IN @ The Center Stage
3/28 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Belvedere’s
3/29 – Harrisburg, PA @ 29th Stage on Herr