global beats
Album Review: Star Feminine Band – In Paris : Afro-pop energy from Benin’s ‘band like no other’.
If you missed catching onto the joyous pop of Star Feminine Band when their self-titled debut burst onto the scene a couple of years ago, then now is the time to get connected with their second album ‘In Paris’ available from 7th October through Born Bad Records. This all-girl, teenage group from Natitingou village, Benin …
Album Review: Nyati Mayi & The Astral Synth Transmitters -‘Lulanga Tales’: electro- African fusion that reaches higher.
Some people are extraordinary singers and some people have extraordinary voices. As a vocalist Nyati Mayi probably falls into the latter bag, able to project a stunning range of notes, tones, textures and feelings often within the same song. The thing with an extraordinary voice is that sometimes it needs grounding, a foundation that prevents …
New Track/Video: Dutch space-funksters Mauskovic Dance Band preview new album ‘Bukaroo Bank’ with its spikey title track.
It’s hard to pin down Mauskovic Dance Band. The mischievous Amsterdam four piece, Nicola, Donnie, Marnix and Mano Mauskovic, may playfully take the same surname to preserve some mystique but their collective purpose is deadly serious. For several years now they’ve been honing a very individual, skeletal electro- funk soundtrack from their Garage Noord workspace, …
New Track/Video: Maral announces new album ‘Ground Groove’ with ‘Feedback Jam’ – dark wave dub with a punch.
LA based producer/DJ Maral is a sound collaborator, collector and connector. From her ‘Mahur Club’ album in 2019 through to 2020’s ‘Push’ she has continued to rove the global beat-making terrain and discover her own dance-floor destinations. On the way she’s pulled strands from her Iranian heritage, whether classical, folk or pop, from her dub …
New Track/video: Soundway announce landmark compilation of 80’s Argentinian electro-pop, ‘Sintesis Moderna’, with stomping single ‘A Ver, A Ver’.
Things are getting mighty crowded in the global beats compilation racks at the moment. Every week seems to bring on another collection of lost gems, quirky genres, tantilising back stories or classy kitsch and here’s one more that might tempt you. Except Síntesis Moderna: An Alternative Vision Of Argentinian Music 1980-1990, set for release via …
New Track/Video: Fiery fusion ensemble M.CHUZI serve up ‘Mammoet’ – steamy multi-grooves from their soon come album ‘Papara’
You may have clocked the announcement on Backseat Mafia a couple of days ago about Stellar Legions debut release and Sdban Records Autumn offensive . In hot pursuit comes news of a second mighty push to keep the imprint’s jazz momentum rolling, the mega-octet M.CHUZI’s breakout LP ‘Papara’ due 4th November. Giles Peterson endorsed, this …
Track/video: Electronic Afro-futurist partnership Nyati Mayi & The Astral Synth Transmitters preview the rootsy ‘Try Sunshine’ ahead of debut album ‘Lulanga Tales’.
When curious minds eventually meet, things usually happen. Multi-instrumentalist/singer Nyati Mayi and DJ/producer soFa elsewhere (aka The Astral Synth Transmitters) may circulate within the wild oscillations of the Brussel’s experimental electronica scene but it took the relative isolation of the 2020 lockdown to bring the pair together. One of the many musical snapshots Nyati posted …
Track/Video: Direct from Benin, Star Feminine Band beam out more authentic teen pop with new single ‘Le Mariage Forcé’ and soon come album ‘In Paris’.
If you didn’t catch onto the joyous West African pop of Star Feminine Band when their self-titled debut burst onto the scene a couple of years ago, then you really missed something. The all-girl, teenage group from Natitingou village Benin, make music forged in friendship, sparkling with youthful energy and powered by commitment. Delivering upbeat …
Album Review: BKO – Djine Bora : explosive rock with Malian roots – magic direct from Bamako
BKO are a band with stamina and staying power who have been needling for attention on the global beat circuit for getting on ten years. Formed in Bamako in 2012 by master percussionist Ibrahima Sarr and his then drum pupil, Frenchman Aymeric Krol, the band soon expanded to a five piece with the introduction of …
EP Review: Chouk Bwa & The Ångströmers – Ayiti Kongo Dub #1: Fusing Haitian Voodou rhythms with techno intensity.
It was around this time a couple of years ago that the pairing of ceremonial drummers Chouk Bwa and techno extenders The Ångströmers’ first rumbled attention with their potent blend of Voodou rhythms and heavy bass currents. Their joint album ‘Vodou Ale’, released in 2020, stepped out way beyond any Haitian roots meets Belgian minimalism …