Recommended music: 'Life & Livin' It' by Sinkane

The new album from Sinkane is here, and it's by far their best yet. Informed by an extensive touring schedule, both as themselves and as part of the Atomic Bomb! William Onyeabor project, it successfully mixes the African rhythms of 'Mars' with the more mature lyrics and r'n'b grooves on 'Mean Love' to deliver a satisfying journey through the human experience.

Most of the record was recorded live by the band playing together, and you can feel the warmth and unity that provides to the tracks. the lyrics meanwhile encourage positivity and togetherness, as message that is sorely needed in these troubled times. "If we illuminate ourselves we'll overcome" Ahmed sings on 'U'Huh', "Kulu shi tamaam", which is an Arabic phrase meaning 'everything is ok'.



Possibly my favourite song on the record is, ironically, 'Favorite Song', a song inspired by Ahmed's dj sets and that moment where you put a record on that everyone knows and loves.

Elsewhere there are disco grooves on 'Telephone' and some heavier afro-caribbean vibes on 'Theme from Life & Livin' It', while the whole album is underpinned by an infectious feeling of friendship and goodness.



If you haven't seen Sinkane live then do your best to catch them on this tour - I've seen them 4 times now and each time I've left the venue with a smile on my face, their enthusiasm and joy is infectious.

'Life & Livin' It' is out on February 10th on City Slang.

Recommended music: 'Music In Exile' by Songhoy Blues

Living proof that the blues is not only a universal language but that it can also be uplifting, Songhoy Blues have journeyed from playing 4-hour sets in a small club in Mali to hipster hangouts in London, partly through choice and partly by necessity. As exiled musicians themselves, having fled their home towns when music was declared 'haram', they made it their mission to entertain outher lost and exiled souls from northern Mali, and to help fight the notion that making music was a sin. In a place like Mali, with a rich musical heritage, they felt that to live without music would be like living in a prison.

And now, after first appearing on last year's Africa Express album 'Maison des Jeunes', they're here to share their gift with us. The album is packed full of brilliant guitar riffs from Garba Toure, as well as some quieter, more reflective moments. Mixing their own songs with reworkings from the Songhoy ethnic tradition, it's a real blend of African and blues music. Produced by Nick Zinner (from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) it's both exuberant and emotional, raw but powerful. You certainly shouldn't pigeonhole this as 'African' or 'world' music, but instead just place it in the box marked 'good music' - it has the power to reach out and speak to you regardless of whether you understand the language or not.

As good as they are on record you really need to see them live to get the full force of their energy and passion, so if they come anywhere near you then go, you won't be disappointed.

PS Is it just me or is that the most 70s-looking album cover you've seen since, well, the 70s? I don't know if someone has deliberately gone for that look, but that's certainly what they've ended up with. 

Recommended music: 'Mean Love' by Sinkane

On his fourth full length album (the first for DFA Records) Ahmed Gallab shows that he's finally ready for the big time. With his confidence having been boosted by a starring roles in Luaka Bop's 'Atomic Bomb: Who is William Onyeabor?' live project, he's created a classy and stylish album that's full of brilliant touches. Effortlessly switching genres, from Afrobeat to funk to soul and back again, his voice is smoother than a silk negligee sliding down Kate Moss's freshly shaven legs.

With tracks harking back to the 70s and the 60s, this is still a thoroughly contemporary record that could only exist in the melting pot of today's cultures. Take 'Galley Boys' for example.It's got African rhythms, a reggae bassline, tons of pedal steel and a chorus melody similar too Primal Scream's 'Star'' Topped off with Ahmed's brilliant voice it all sounds so easy, but you know that sounding so laid-back is a hard thing to achieve.

It's the kind of record that you can play at any time of day or night, whatever mood you're in, and emerge feeling like a better person. Basically if you're at all fed up it'll put a smile on your face, and you could as easily dance to it as make love to it (or maybe even do one followed by the other?).

I reckon this album cements him as a major talent who'll not only continue to make his own great records but can have his pick of whichever artists he wants to work with in the future.

Currently on a whistle-stop tour to promote the album, Sinkane are back in the UK later in the year for some more dates, including one at Oslo in Hackney on December 1st which promises to banish the winter blues. I'll see you there!

Track of the Day: 'Avertissement' by Fouma System

It's taken some years to reach fruition, but this project from Mustaf Mbaye and Troels Kampmann sond pretty special. Keen to work together physically (rather than just collaborating via the internet) they hit the studio in Copenhagen in their bid to make "original, natural music that's a mix of traditions and inspirations". The first fruit of their labours is the 'Mind Mi Dem' EP, from which this track is taken. There'll be more EPs to come this year but for now sit back and take in this heady concoction - despite the fact that neither Denmark nor Senegal are in the World Cup it feels right for the current international mood. Listen and download the track for free below.

Remix of the Day: 'Muizenberg (The 2 Bears Remix)' by John Wizards

I'm probably a couple of weeks behind on this one, but I've been meaning to check out this Cape Town band for a while, a fact I was reminded of when I saw this remix mentioned on twitter. The remix is a brilliant creation, retaining that African rhythmic bass but building into a proper house tune. It's full of the sour of sunshine vibes that you don't really get in the UK in January, and makes a welcome change from the over-indulgent stupor of Christmas. Have a listen below.

Recommended music: 'Mars' by Sinkane

This album crept out on DFA Records / City Slang towards the end of 2012, and since then has slowly been building up both critical acclaim and a swelling groundbase of support. It's a real melting pot of a record, as varied as the background of Sinkane founder Ahmed Gallab. He was born in the Sudan, but currently resides in Brooklyn, NYC. His journey from one to the other has taken him from being a hardcore punk in Columbus, Ohio to touring the world as part of such illustrious acts as Yeasayer, Caribou, Born Ruffians and Of Montreal. The records is mostly his own work but there are various guest spots from his friends famous and otherwise, and live the band is expanded to an energetic four-piece.

The only way to pigeon-hole this record is to put it into the slot marked 'good-time party music'. Whatever genre he's playing with, be it '70s jazz (there are hints of Herbie Hancock), African high-life, funk or soul the common thread is that this is upbeat, positive music. There's some great guitar work, loads of varied and technically accomplished drumming and overall this is an album that rarely flags. A high point for me is 'Making Time', which fuses all of the albums elements together and tops them off with a fantastic guitar solo from Twin Shadow's George Lewis Jr. Here's the video for the opening track 'Runnin':


Sinkane - Runnin' (Official Video) from DFA Records on Vimeo.

At the bottom of the page you can listen to the whole album, courtesy of the lovely people at DFA. If you like it (I'm sure you will) make sure you buy it and/or go and see the band live - they're playing all over Europe in April (including a London gig tomorrow night which I'm going to), and the US in May and June.

Track of the Day: 'Hey Shooter (feat. Erykah Badu)' by Rocket Juice and the Moon

The first fruits of Damon Albarn's new project with Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Tony Allen has just been released online. Featuring Erykah Badu, it starts off in a fairly amateurish way, before developing nicely. Allen's trademark drumming underpins some funky basslines, giving the track a contemporary African feel, which is topped off with some brass from the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (who also featured on the last Gorillaz album). Damon noodles around on some keyboards as he is prone to do, while Badu's silky tones warble away some rather vague lyrics that may (or may not be) an anti-gun message.

It's not gonna set the world on fire, but it's an interesting enough track (certainly head and shoulders above the recent Gorillaz / LCD Soundsystem / Andre 3000 track, which was a crushing disappointment).

The album is out on March 26th and also features contributions from Mailian singer Fatoumate Diawara and Ghanian rapper M.Anifest.

My 50 best albums of 2011 part 1: 41 - 50

41. Elbow - Build A Rocket Boys!

Not as commercial as the massively successful Seldom Seen Kid, but the quality of songwriting shines through. There may be one or two moments when they are guilty of playing to the crowd ('Open Arms', for example), but for every one of those there are still moments when Guy Garvey's lyrics can move you with their perfect pictures - 'Lippy Kids' is up there with his best.

42. Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch The Throne

OK, so maybe it wasn't quite as good as you might expect from the sum of its parts, but it was still a pretty historic moment in rap history. You can't go wrong when you rope in your wife (well, you can't if your wife's Beyonce), and the best songs on here could easily sit on Yeezy's brilliant album from last year, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. And Frank Ocean, featured here on 2 tracks, is gonna be a major star in 2012.

43. Chapel Club - Palace

A really promising debut from this London band. Yes, it covers most of the indie bases from the 80s to now, but it does so with style and depth. The vocals from Lewis Bowman are strong, and put across his strong lyrics really well, while the music soars in places and quietly swoons in others. Definitely designed for bigger and better things in 2012.

44. Dels - Gob

A great slice of British hip-hop (from Ipswich of all places), the boy Kieren Dickins mixes deep, dark subjects with more upbeat moments, over a musical hybrid of indie and electronica. The lyrics are shot through with a sense of realism and perspective, with no need for cocksure bravado, and you get a sense that this is the birth of a genuine talent who could take on the might of US hip-hop.

45. Ringo Deathstarr - Colour Trip

Inevitably I was enticed by the band's love-it-or-hate-it name, but the music is well worth hearing. A fascinating mix of The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Cocteau Twins, My Bloody Valentine and Beach House, this is perfect power pop. Catch them live - but beware, they're bloody loud!

46. Rival Consoles - Kid Velo

Like Daft Punk soundtracking an Atari game from the 80s, this slice of electronica is fun, frisky and full of beans. There are hints of Kraftwerk, and more French influences from Justice, Mr. Oizo and even Jean-Michel Jarre - not bad for young Ryan West from Leicester! There are some huge tunes on here, real arms-in-the-air classics - it's an eccentric electronic energiser.

47. DRC Music - Kinshasa One Two

The latest African project from Damon Albarn, mixing 11 western producers with current Congolese musicians. The result is an intriguing mix of more traditional music with up to date electronic sounds. Apart from on the first track 'Hallo' Albarn stays in the background and lets everyone else take turns being centre stage, and you can feel good in the knowledge that while you're enjoying the music, the proceeds are helping Oxfam's work in the Congo.

48. Justice - Audio, Video, Disco

A step forwards for Justice, which in some places was a step back to the seventies. Featuring a much broader palette of music than their debut, the album manages to mix futuristic electro sounds with 70s guitars and in the process creates the most 'rock' dance album of the year.

49. Wu Lyf - Go Tell Fire To The Mountain

A unique band with a unique sound. They started off behind a wall of hype, but emerged with a great album. Live they go from strength to strength, and if they keep developing at the rate they have in 2011 they could be massive by the end of next year.

50. This Frontier Needs Heroes - The Future

Warm and touching, with just the right amount of pathos, this brother/sister duo create an intimacy and empathy in their music and lyrics that draws the listener in. Plus the physical album comes with a free pair of 3D glasses - that really is the future!

Recommended music: 'Kinshasa One Two' by DRC Music

In July 2011 eleven producers headed to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo to record an album with contemporary Congolese musicians. Those 11 (Damon Albarn, Dan The Automator, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Jneiro Jarel, Richard Russell, Actress, Marc Antoine, Alwest, Remi Kabaka, Rodaidh McDonald and Kwes) worked with over 50 local musicians such as Jupiter and the Okwess International, Bokotola System, and Nelly Liyemge, to record the record over the space of just 5 days, which has now been released on Warp Records.

Unlike Albarn's previous foray into African music (the Mali Music album in 2002) his involvement here is far more understated, and his vocals only appear on the first track 'Hallo', which does sound quite a lot like it could've been a Gorillaz track. Elsewhere on the album there's a wide variety of styles as the different producers involved each take a hand in steering the music. So the music veers from more distinctively African tracks, like the acapella 'Love', to some which have more of an electronic underpinning. It doesn't feel disjointed though, and the whole album hangs together really well with an overall percussive feel and an uplifting sense of spirit.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has long been racked by conflict and is home to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Proceeds from this album will benefit the local performers and Oxfam's work in Congo. So you get to hear some good music while at the same time helping a good cause - simples! The video below gives you a taster of how the sessions came together, and below it you can listen to three tracks from the album.



DRC Music - Kinshasa One Two (see http://drcmusic.org ) by DRC Music

Friday Top Ten - 7/10/11

DJ Cull's Friday Top Ten - 7/10/2011 by Dj Cull on Mixcloud

14 tracks in this week's selection, half of which you can get as free downloads. Click on the play button above, track details and download links are below.

1. DRC Music - Hallo (feat. Tout Puissant Mukalo and Nelly Liyemge)
2. Sleep ∞ Over - Stickers
3. Oh Land - Bloodbuzz Ohio Free download
4. DJ Shadow - Enemy Lines
5. David's Lyre - Hidden Ground (D/R/U/G/S Remix) Free download
6. Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out (The Weeknd Remix) 
7. White Denim - Hot Thought Free download
8. DRC Music - Respect Of The Rules (feat. Loi X Liberal)
9. The Golden Filter - Shake Free download
10. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Ffunny Ffriends (The Naked And Famous Remix) Free download
11. Chapel Club - Waterlight Park (demo Jan 2011) Free download
12. Withered Hand - Hard On
13. Josh T. Pearson - Sorry With A Song
14. Broken Shoulder - Shark Island