Various Artists - Mukuba Special

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  • One idea behind the ongoing Congotronics project of Belgian label Crammed Discs is that there are connections to be made between past and present that are unique to African music but applicable—and hearable, and enjoyable—for fans of other sorts of music. That's what's given them their crossover power, and it's why they're good candidates for remixing—not to mention the project's focus on rough and heavy percussion. You know how remixers love that kind of thing. Shackleton certainly does. He thoroughly detonates the Kasai Allstars' "Mukuba Special" by finding all the little instrumental and vocal moments of excitement and stuttering them. This doesn't feel gimmicky, somehow; it's more like he's chipping at a rock to get to the gem within, and only with repeated strokes can he open it completely. It's a rising swamp of a track, almost overwhelming at times—like suffocating on velvet. The flip features Burnt Friedman's looser treatment of Konono No1's "Rubaczech"—more top-heavy, with Friedman reworking the percussion into something that's sleek even while it's still raw.
  • Tracklist
      A1 Shackleton vs. Kasai Allstars - Mukuba Special B1 Burnt Friedman vs. Konono No.1 - Rubaczech
RA