Taken from their forthcoming album African Prayers, out April 1st on the Lo Recordings imprint, is the new single Blue Noir from Berlin and Réunion based duo Amine Mesnaoui and Labelle, and we’re delighted to be able to premiere the Stephen Talneau directed video right here on Backseat Mafia today.
The LP its taken from features seven compositions that bring a fresh interpretation to the Lila ritual of the Moroccan Gnawa masters, and is also known as the Ritual of the Seven Colors. Within the duo, Mesnaoui plays a prepared piano that is modified by different objects, which are inserted into its strings while Labelle simultaneously plays electronic instruments and further processes the piano sound.
Within this framework, Blue Noir it based in a jazz tradition, albeit influenced by minimalistic modern composition, but features smatterings of afro beats and percussion and this almost trance like chanting and singing that is almost always obscured from view within the mix. The effect is beautiful and intoxicating, much like the accompanying video.
Check it out, here
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