Check out my hour-and-a-half set for Friday (18 Feb) night's edition of the Hit Refresh TV show (on the Vuzu channel, DStv 123).
From future Afro-funk through to deeper (and deadlier) floor fare, the tracklist features C.9ine, Soul Clap, Hercules & Love Affair, Maya Jane Coles, Black Coffee, Jumping Back Slash, T. Williams, Jimpster and many more...
From Shangaan Electro and Spoek Mathambo (that's him above on the cover of the latest Fader mag) through to DJs Mujava and Cleo being spun by UK bass heavyweights like Kode9, South African music is invading planet earth's dancefloors. Check my recent round-up on Generation Bass, and enjoy the below, out now on Kode9's Hyperdub label: a collaboration between the UK's LV and SA's Okmalumkoolkat (who looks suspiciously like Spoek Mathambo):
South African house music hero DJ Mujava was recently nominated for a Music Of Black Origin (MOBO) Award.
The annual ceremony took place in Glasgow on 30 September and while the Tshwane-reared Mujava - real name Elvis Maswanganyi - didn't win in the Best African category, he was up against some class opposition: fellow South African Lira, Mali's Oumou Sangare and Salif Keita, and Nigeria's Eldee, and Nneka, who took the award.
The recognition follows the massive splash Mujava made last year with the track 'Township Funk' (featured on Civilised Disobedience here). After that 8-bit instrumental kwaito jam was 'discovered' on YouTube, it was licensed to Warp Records in the UK and became one of THE dance anthems of 2008. It was also remixed by electronic dons like Ashley Beedle, Mark Pritchard and Matias Aguayo.
From the township streets to the top of the beat pile.
Tshwane, aka Pretoria, is fast turning into the super-heated hub of local house music culture.
The nation's capital has always had a healthy club scene that's spread serious house fare in thick swathes, from hotbeds like Carnalita and Ellesse to modern dance dens like Musica Feliz, but now it seems to be spawning the spine-tingling music production talent too.
Per capita, this country has the biggest house music market on the planet – it's the kind of place (if any other exists) where you'll hear the likes of Larry Heard and Charles Webster on daytime radio: cuts like “The Sad Piano” are bona fide blockbuster attractions here.
But lately the local production fraternity are hijacking house floors back; bending some of kwaito's basic elements – low-tempo 4-square beats and township trim – into shapes that are not as specific as kwaito's vernac variations. They're Afro-flavoured but with with an ear-trained to international tastes. And they're hitting paydirt with house music lovers across the globe.
Recognition is in the rumour that consummate label for all things electronic (and not), Warp Records, have picked up the raw slice of twisted 'kasi' keys and tribal drums that is DJ Mujava's 'Township Funk' for release later this year.
In 2007, Blackwhole, ruled the airwaves - and lots of adventurous hips - with a tune that exemplifies the instrumental restraint that's dominated SA-sprung dance beats for a while, but that slowly lets loose: “1000 Seconds” unwinds with wide-screen keyboard reach and a nagging, relentless momentum that's hard to ignore – or not groove to.
Rhythmic Elements exemplify another aspect of Pretoria's impressively amassing pool of dance-inducing talent. Taking in more traditionally South African sounds, they've captured current imaginations and playlists with the infectious “2 By 2”.
And while we're on the subject of excellent dance tunes with South African flavour, enjoy the sprawling meeting of Amampondo and Germany's coolest house cat, Henrik Schwarz...
From Shangaan Electro and Spoek Mathambo (that's him above on the cover of the latest Fader mag) through to DJs Mujava and Cleo being spun by UK bass heavyweights like Kode9, South African music is invading planet earth's dancefloors. Check my recent round-up on Generation Bass, and enjoy the below, out now on Kode9's Hyperdub label: a collaboration between the UK's LV and SA's Okmalumkoolkat (who looks suspiciously like Spoek Mathambo):
South African house music hero DJ Mujava was recently nominated for a Music Of Black Origin (MOBO) Award.
Tshwane, aka Pretoria, is fast turning into the super-heated hub of local house music culture.
DJ Mujava – Township Funk
Blackwhole – 1000 Seconds
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