Format: LP
Released: April 2012
Best known for his work as a writer, artist and musician this album brings together seven years of experimentation with African and electronic music that led to the creation of a unique and invigorating blend of the two. Bebey's highly distinctive voice is prevalent throughout, toasting in French and occasional English over a backdrop of ear poppingly vibrant tracks that draw from afrobeat, highlife and traditional music.
Album opener 'New Track' kicks in with sparse instrumentation, before a huge variety of textures and polyrhythms enter the mix. It's heady stuff, reflecting the phased repitions that composers like Steve Reich were experimenting with in the same era. The way Bebey delivers his vocals references chanson and their politicized content draws easy reference to Fela Kuti, but this is a different beast altogether- the aggression of afrobeat is not really present here although its framework is. Tracks like 'Tiers Monde' sound strikingly modern and 'The Coffee Cola Song' in particular is mind blowing. In terms of sheer exuberance there is little that can match this collection.
No comments:
Post a Comment