Ibibio Sound Machine
Electricity
Merge
I am just so blown away by what I've heard from the new Ibibio Sound Machine LP, Electricity, (Merge Records, March 25th). I have to get the heads up out there. You need Electricity in your life. That's for sure.
An Afrofuturistic melting pot throwback all at once for me. Speaks to me of African 80s, think Mano Dibango, think Hugh Masekela, early Papa Wemba on top of his game. Splice in Nigeria's electro sounds and Brazilian early Techo, and you end up here with this, a pounding, driving, fast living, exuberant, uplifting horn splattered, heavy fuzzed, slab of electro funk mix. This is real dance music by people who have given a considerable amount of thought to how to make you dance and if you can't, well just leap, jump, and wave your arms chant and get inside the heart of the Ibibio Sound Machine. It's a feeling, it's feeling like a great place, an joyous escape to another world, for a while.
Electricity is produced by Hot Chip - who previously helped get people into William Onyeabor - the LP creates a strident world place. Ibibio Sound Machine, led by superstar vocalist, Eno Williams includes the resonances of Grace Jones, Tom Tom Club, Kae Tempest, Keith LeBlanc, The J.B.’s, Jon Hassell’s “Fourth World,” and Bootsy Collins. It's in your face, in your head, and in your heart music for the soul. Close your eyes. What do you hear?
Anyway... Don't read any more, just listen, get out and buy the CD, even better play it to your friends until you batter them into submission. But if you need more reasons read on... Oh man, the horn breaks lift Electricity out of everyday electro, into the frantic, passionate, energetic drive that makes the entire LP an anthem of hope. Ibibio Sound Machine are on tour in the UK very soon check them out.
