a r t i s t : Owiny Sigoma Band
t i t l e : Power Punch!!!
d a t e : 2013
l a b e l : Brownswood
c a t : BWOOD069LP
s o u r c e : WEB
g e n r e : Ethnic
r l s. d a t e : Aug/2013
t r a c k s : 11
b i t r a t e : 320kbps
s i z e : 102,5 MB
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Owiny Sigoma BandÆs debut was released two years ago after a
group of London-based musicians travelled to Kenya to
collaborate with nyatiti master musician and music teacher
Joseph Nyamungu and Luo drummer Charles Owoko. The results on
the self-titled disc seemed to reflect on the visitors quickly
learning from their hosts, as they produced a set of songs
largely based on traditional Luo folk, comprised of irregular
rhythms, with poppier songs like 'WiresÆ and 'Here On The
LineÆ representing the English musiciansÆ influence.
Their second album, Power Punch!!!, sees the dynamic reversed,
as the duo from Nairobi make the trip to London to this time
learn a thing or two from the quartet of Jesse Hackett
(vocals, keys), Louis Hackett (bass), Sam Lewis (guitar) and
Tom Skinner (drums). The latter introduced some new musical
styles to their guests, including shangaan electro, electronic
and techno, inspiring the group to develop their sound
exploring exciting new sonic territory.
Opener 'Nagalo Ni Piny OdagÆ picks up where the 2011 debut
ended, desert blues-like nyatiti lines, and hand played
percussion, but in the mix giving a hint of what is to come
are arpeggiated synth tones. After just two-and-a-half minutes
it is over, and the next track, 'Norbat Okelo,Æ offers a
surprising new direction that bears little resemblance to the
groupÆs previous release. Drum machines and electronic
submarine-like pops play at a coolly slow after-hours tempo,
with conversational vocals from Nyamungu. NyamunguÆs nyatiti -
an eight-string lyre on which strings are played with a
violin-like bow û featured heavily on Owiny Sigoma Band, and
while it still plays a key role, here the group bring
electronic tools to the fore. By the third track the African
and British influences meld, as Jesse Hackett takes over vocal
duties on the deeper still depths of 'Sunken WrecksÆ. This
time clattering percussion and warped woozey synths are cut
with clipped violin samples as the track progresses and
bird-like flutes enter the mix, with backward phasing effects.
'Lucas MaloreÆ sounds as if Nyamungu is giving an early
morning wake-up call, excitedly telling his friends back home
of a big night out in London, over a chorus of thumb pianos,
upping the tempo after the slower opening trio of songs, this
is an all-day party of a record after all. All of a sudden
from the early morning urban haze it is like being dragged
back out into the bright streets of Nairobi. The new dawn
intro of 'Magret AloorÆ makes way for tightly coiled African
guitar rhythms as the musicians come together, NyamunguÆs
vocals making way for Hackett in the dubby chorus.
The second half of the record begins with the upbeat Afro-pop
funk of 'Harpoon LandÆ before another unlikely diversion, this
time into techno, on 'Owiny Techno,Æ previewed on The Quietus
recently. Acid basslines are punctuated by popping drums and
strangulated calls from Nyamungu, who cries, "Africa! Africa!"
claiming the new sound as his own, and at five and a half
minutes it feels like it ends abruptly. That is not to
underestimate what else this invigorated group have up their
sleeves. 'YukimweÆ is based on winding African guitar licks,
wrapped up in spacey electronic textures.
On this album, released on Gilles PetersonÆs Brownswood
Recordings, the Owiny Sigoma Band have dared to make an album
that pushes their ever-evolving sound into unexpected
directions. The result is no sucker punch, but a knockout
blow.
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01-Nagalo Ni Piny Odag [02:32]
02-Norbat Okelo [04:00]
03-Sunken Wrecks [05:05]
04-Lucas Malore [04:27]
05-Magret Aloor [05:34]
06-Mombassa Outro [01:06]
07-Harpoon Land [02:56]
08-Owiny Techno [05:29]
09-Yukimwi [04:38]
10-All Together [03:21]
11-Johnny Ra Ha [05:33]
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44:41 min