global beats
Album Review: El Búho – ‘Strata’: Cumbia infused electronica to celebrate and satisfy.
If anyone was going to justifiably lay claim to the tags ‘organic electronics’ or ‘natural electronica’ with any degree of credibility then that must be El Búho. The UK producer/DJ, otherwise known as Robin Perkins, has always partnered his environmental activism with his music, they are parts of him that in many ways have grown …
Album Review : Chouk Bwa & The Ångströmers – Somanti : Vodou energy meets electro dub intensity to break new ground.
The partnership between Haitian mizik rasin (or roots music) collective Chouk Bwa and Brussels electronic beat masters The Ångströmers hasn’t exactly had a smooth ride. First connecting in 2016 around Rokskilde Festival time, the idea of fusing potent Vodou sounds with the dance informed, dub wise beat reductions felt like a good one. A couple …
Album Review: Fabiano Do Nascimento – Das Nuvens : New Fusion music for the heart and soul
If you know anything of guitarist/composer Fabiano do Nascimento’s significant back catalogue you will be expecting his new album ‘Das Nuvens‘ to be impressive. Each release from his debut ‘Dança Dos Tempos’ in 2015 onwards has shown: his accomplished instrumental touch, whether on seven, twelve or oktav guitar; his intuitive feel for classic Brazilian music, …
Album Review: Nickodemus – Soul & Science: flowing global beats for moving and messaging.
New York based sonic traveller, producer and DJ Nickodemus is one of those global beats’ touchstones. Motivating dancefloors across the continents since the mid nineties and founder of the world rhythm epicentre that is Wonderwheel Recordings, he is a devoted fusionist with a deep feel for all his influences. Latin, disco, Arabic, funk, soul, afrobeat, …
Album Review : Dele Sosimi and The Estuary 21 – ‘The Confluence’ : The afrobeat alumni returns to guide and groove.
Touchstone afrobeat musician Dele Sosimi teaming up with long standing indie songsmith Sam Duckworth (aka Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly) sounds like a longshot but that’s what’s happened. Sosimi’s new mini album ‘The Confluence’ is on the shelves via Wah Wah 45s and yes Duckworth is on production duties. Except this is no quirky experiment, …
Album Review: ‘Yalla Miku’ – Yalla Miku : Gnawa rhythms, East African roots and post punk dynamism connect on this electric debut.
Every city has a true face, a side which, as Lydon said ‘the tourists never see” and revealing that real identity is what Yalla Miku are all about. Formed by the founder of Swiss label Bongo Joe, musician Cyril Yeterian and his band mate from the aptly named Cyril Cyril, percussionist Cyril Bondi, Yalla Miku’s …
News/Tracks: Yalla Miku preview debut album, a cranked up connection of gnawa rhythms, East African spirit and post punk dynamism.
Now here’s something to shout about, a new gutsy global beats collective Yalla Miku coming out of the house of Bongo Joe Records with a debut self-titled album hitting the shelves from 31st March. Formed by Bongo Joe founder, musician Cyril Yeterian and his band mate from the requisitely named Cyril Cyril, percussionist Cyril Bondi, …
News/Track/Video : Jazz-funk fusionists Caixa Cubo preview new album ‘Agôra’ with hot-stepping single ‘Sábado’.
Need pepping up then Sao Paulo trio Caixa Cubo may help with the sharp grooved energetic funk of their new single Sábado. Channeling the racy pace and dynamism of their home city, Henrique Gomide (keys), João Fideles (drums) and Noa Stroeter (bass) never look back as they switch and swerve through this bustling jazz fusion/samba …
News/Track/Video: Brazilian song-crafter João Selva announces new album ‘Passarinho’ with its soulful title track
Born in Ipanema, schooled in bossa nova and steeped in Capoeira’s heady blend of martial arts, dance and traditional song, João Selva draws from some rich cultural credentials in his music. Add in a willingness to mess with those genre boundaries plus a Bahia to the Caribbean rhythmic sensibility and you get a singer/songwriter on …
Album Review: Mauskovic Dance Band – ‘Bukaroo Bank’: an urgent post punk dub directive from Amsterdam.
Those Mauskovic Dance Band boys are back, back with Bongo Joe Records and back with another fine slice of snappy syncopation. The mischievous Amsterdam four piece, Nico, Donnie, Marnix and Mano Mauskovic, may quirkily take the same surname to maintain their mystique but this time around their collective purpose seems intensely serious. New album ‘Bukaroo …