It’s the energy that grabs you. I reviewed Benet Mclean’s ‘The Bopped and The Bopless’ back in 2016 and have not tired of it. So, it was a little trepidation I pressed ‘play’ on Mclean’s latest release ‘Green Park’. I mean, how can you top ‘The Bopped and The Bopless’? Mclean does not even try …
Years ago I knew a kid in my neighbourhood called Chumbo. His family were from North Africa. I’m not sure exactly where. He was a bright kid, loved his football, and always had a big smile. When he moved, his friends around him were so sad, I never saw him again, and nothing on the …
Congratulations on the release of your EP Asya Satti, how does it feel? Great! I’m really happy to have these particular songs out as I feel they captured a sound I was trying to create for a little while. What’s the story behind it? I wanted to create a sound that drew from my influences, …
Well, this song is a protest song if ever there was one! Sunshine reggae groove laid down in dub style with reverb which is the main ingredient of a dub track… Lord knows we need this song right now. This song is about wars going on around the world. It may not be on our …
This track grooves on nicely! It reminds me of the music that we used to play in my house growing up in so many ways – the analogue sounds including the organ, which I’m going to hazard a guess at being a Vox. The synth lead gives it away that this artist is influenced by …
To Ghana – the motherland – we go for this, and it’s got the taste of suya, jollof rice and an ice cold Fanta in the summer sun with ice dripping down the sides. In other words this song deserves the chef’s kiss. Gabrielle Sey and Brapurple join forces on this Gabrielle bringing the soulful …
This song comes with such a gentle Afro beat flavour that took me back to the mother land. Sharyn dropped a gospel flavour that fuses beautiful harmonies with a beat that has percussion doing most of the work, but with the occasional 808 dropping a kick here and there. But this is not about the …
James Numbere is back and he’s brought us a gospel song that is just gorgeous. Mixed with African percussion, acoustic guitars, piano and strings this just hits the spot. The lyrics appeal to God for help in carrying the load, and recognises that we are after all human with very human physicalities – the lyrics …
Florie Namir is back with a stunning ballad and a duet partner – Franck Niyong. Their voices are very different, Frank has a soulful touch whereas Florie’s vocals are suited to folk/jazz but they find a middle ground, and this song is a perfect vehicle for this. It’s an acoustic number, the percussion is gorgeous, …
Courtney Pine has been part of the global music scene for decades. His constantly evolving approach to music, and jazz music, in particular, has made him an endearing and engaging musician. I have seen him perform with artists in different settings, from school halls to large fabled concert venues. Every time, Pine brings to the …
