Mojo Magazine compiled a CD for their August 2009 issue titled 'Africa Rising' which had a truly mesmerizing collection of music from... Africa. I'm not sure whether it was that CD which sparked an interest in the wider British press or whether it simply heightened my own awareness to African music around me in particular the various artists presented on that CD but since then, for whatever reason, there has been an explosion on my radar of quality, refreshing African music.
The band Konono No.1 have a record on the above named CD which can be loosely described as African Instrumental Techno, such is the flow of the percussion on it. On it, and across many other artist's music there's a display of complexity and depth in the melodies, many with vibrant, colourful, multi-tonal, rapid flows of live-instrumentation.
This record hits the radar right in the middle of all of this. I hope you enjoy it, Kasai Allstars featured on the (excellent) Mojo CD so you could perhaps check it out if you missed it and like what you hear here. As always, please support the artists by playing it loud and always make a purchase when you can.
