"Dounya" New 12 inch Afrokaliptyk Productions / Cosmic Groove Records
From the new album "Sira Ba" out in Autumn 2009
Afrokaliptyk Productions / Underdog Records Available on Cosmicgroove.fr.
"Natural Juice" Album Afrokaliptyk Productions / Underdog Records
Licensed on double vinyl by Cosmic Groove Records
Available on Cosmicgroove.fr.
"Noble Tree" 12 Inch Afrokaliptyk Productions / Cosmic Groove Records
Available on Cosmicgroove.fr.
"Natural Juice" 12 Inch Afrokaliptyk Productions / Cosmic Groove Records
Available on Cosmicgroove.fr.
SIRA BA
New album – out 10th November 2009.
2010’s revelation could well come from Montpellier. For the last ten years or so, the collective ‘Fanga’ has been on the up, blending afrobeat, jazz and funk and playing a music that is eminently spiritual. Fanga means ‘strength of conviction’ in Dioula and the commitment of the group is emblematic of its name.
An alliance of complementary personalities and cosmopolitan energies, Fanga first took form in 1998. Returning from Africa, Serge Amiano brings back a few vinyls of the likes of Fela, CS Crew and CK Mann that he plays to the Burkinabese rapper Korbo. Amiano being a hip-hop producer naturally takes on the role of the group’s artistic director right from the start.
The discovery of this urban African music of the 1970s quickly forms the basis of a shared passion. In 2000 the album ‘Black Voices’ by Tony Allen definitively seals Fanga’s birth and its afrobeat foundations with an obvious orientation towards dance and the solid relationship between the eight members of the group.
Fanga brings out its first six tracks in 2001 with a minimal rhythm section. Joined by the bass player Rajaneesh Dwivedi and the drummer Samuel Devauchelle, the group records ‘Afrokalyptik’ in 2003, its first album. The following album ‘Natural Juice’ comes out in 2007, warmly received and with much acclaim. Fanga is not only highly praised by Gilles Peterson but also the New York magazine Wax Poetics.
Having played with Antibalas, Seun Kuti and Kokolo, Fanga has nurtured solid relationships within the international afrobeat community. In the studio, the group’s path crosses that of Tony Allen and the sadly demised Segun Demisa, both pillars of Fela Kuti’s Africa 70, as well as that of the iconoclastic rapper Mike Ladd. Fanga launches its live project on stages around England, Holland, Spain and Italy.
Despite being firmly rooted in certain Nigerian and Ghanean musical traditions (those of the 1970s’ afro-beat and high-life) Fanga is equally at home to musical concoction, as demonstrated by the samples and other hip-hop and electronic ingredients, not to mention the vocals in Dioula, English and French. The gritty horns and earthy analogue keyboards shape the group’s sound whilst Korbo has no hesitation in embracing his Mandingue roots.
Flowing without restraint, Fanga exudes both spirituality and an intense persuasive power. It is home to an iron fist, characteristic of the most proud and organic of black musics. Melodious and hypnotic, the pieces developed by the group not only strive towards a groove conducive to a state of trance but is also equally appealing to the mind.
Whilst avoiding lengthy discourses, revolutionary messages and the pretension of offering answers to the problems of the world, Korbo nonetheless poses serious lines of reflection, in particular, defending the right to be different as well as nurturing a deeper harmony between humankind and nature. He denounces the social injustice arising from the pyramidal economic structures that have become uncontrollable and egotistical. Newspaper headlines often inspire Fanga’s songs.
Brought up on the raw energy of hip-hop, the group reposes equally on certain values that even today can only be found in Africa, a sort of candour and instinctive sense of rhythm which lends such freshness to Fanga. This urge to respond when faced with a base emotion, however fleeting, has governed their musical progression since the beginning of the 2000s.
Empassioned and passionate, their music contains alluring promise. Fanga takes on an entire dimension on stage. Those who’ve had the chance of seeing the group live can only agree. Under the ongoing artistic direction of Serge Amiano, Fanga has recorded its third album in spring 2009 in Montpellier, entitled ‘Sira Ba’ (The Long Road).
Over the course of nine pieces, the collective Fanga offers a look at the past through the eyes of the present and the future. The Jamaican singer Winston McAnuff infuses a reggae accent in I Go On Without You, whereas the Togo All Stars orchestra shines out like a thousand fires on Dounya, one of the strongest and most jubilant of the album, resonating in the afro-funk echos of Moussa Doumbia and Amadou Ballaké.
Alternating drawn-out lyrical climaxes, explosive brass passages, killer riffs and melodic ease, ‘Sira Ba’ displays a powerful force of conviction, reflecting an uncompromised musical complicity and an impressive flow of energy. Julien Raulet’s guitar work reacts perfectly with the keyboards of David Rekkab and the percussion of Eric Durand.
Martial Reverdy’s baritone reinforces the energy and persuasive power exuded by Fanga, along with the lyrics that take us straight back to the most glorious hour of the golden age of afrobeat, laced with the influences of that ‘great black music’. Once fallen under the spell of this strength of conviction, all that remains is to dance.
Florent Mazzoleni.
Buy the album " Natural Juice ", Clic on the player
Ziris Records Présente : Les Enfants du siècle @ L'intermediaire (Marseille) - dès 21h Entrée Libre !
Line UP : - Les Ziris (Dj Set, Zirio : Various / Fainst : Techno) - Jr & Mrk (Set/Live en duo, Electro/HipHop/Various) - Thomas Meltayer (Dj Set, Progressive/Drum'n Bass)
Amis du .g, bonjour ! Passez sur notre page écouter nos deux dernières mises en ligne : Chaud Bouillant et Hot&Sour (instrumental). Prochaine scène le samedi 21 à Livry-Gargan, à 15h.
.g prépare ses nouvelles cuvées et vous livrera bientôt de nombreux nouveaux concerts. Rock’n groove, songs & pleasure !
Nous avons ouvert sur notre page le concours AFRO PÉPITES Show. Ouvert du 1 juillet au 31 décembre. Le 1er concours chercheur de pépites Africaines. Venez vite découvrir qu'est-ce qu'une AFRO PÉPITE sur notre site …
AFRO PEPITES SHOW : Du 15 au 31 déc 09, concours dédiés à tous les artistes de tous les continents autour d’un seul thème la culture Africaine ! Venez participer !
Les nouvelles de l'AFRO PEPITES SHOW : - Venez voter pour nos finalistes au concours de Musique d’AFRIQUE du SAHARA, du 11 no au 1er dec, sur le blog : http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=228693288&blogId=518063560 - Le concours Musique d’Afrique Centrale est ouvert du 1er au 15 novembre : Musiciens, partagez avec nos internautes votre meilleure composition. Voir comment participer sur notre page. - Dès l5 novembre, c’est le concours Musique d’Afrique de l’Est qui s’ouvre. - Découvrez les participants au concours de Musique d’Afrique CENTRALE : http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=228693288&blogId=517096606
Simplement pour refaire part du plaisir de vous avoir vu et écouté au JAM . C'est une bien belle machine que vous avez entre les mains ! Un salut particulier à ceux que je n'ai pas croisés ce soir-là . Bonne route ... Charly
Pour la 8ème année consécutive le festival africain « Bagiliba » du canton de Fayence-Var se déroulera du 11 au 15 novembre. Les artistes présents Les frères Guissé, Toko Blaze et Kady Diarra. Visitez notre site www.bagiliba.org pour le programme complet (ateliers, expos, stages, concerts…). Venez nombreux !!!
J-3 les frères Guissé J-5 Toko Blaze J-6 Kady Diarra
J'ai mis une vidéo sur l'asso Coeur Afrik dont je m'occupe ainsi que deux nouveaux titres que j'ai produit aussi pour l'asso: un remixd'"Abidjan" et "Pourquoi". Dis moi tes impressions quand tu as le temps
*New Single "Afrika Man" Feat. Jojo Kuo Out On RecordKicks
KOKOLO NOVEMBER TOUR DATES:
Fri Nov 13 - Athens, Greece @ Gazarte Sat Nov 14 - Athens, Greece @ Gazarte Sun Nov 15th - Thessaloniki, Greece@ Block 33 Mon Nov 16th - Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria @ Melon Thur Nov 19th - Buhcarest, Bulgaria @ The Gang Fri Nov 20th - Istanbul, Turkey @ Caprice
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Les nuits Afrobeat No Limit à la Bellevilloise : KIALA / KOLOGBO : Crazy Afrobeat KOLOGBO AFROBEAT MOVEMENT (NEW ALBUM) - KIALA AFROBEAT JUNGLE - DJ NESS Le samedi 28 novembre de 21h30 à l'aube www.afrobeatnolimit.com www.myspace.com/afrobeatnolimit
.La Nuit Afrobeat No Limit, parce que la légende de l’afrobeat continue ! Vivre l’afrobeat dans ses deux phases majeures, pour mieux le situer dans le futur : Mama Mia ! Forever Afrobeat !Kologbo Afrobeat Movement Oghene Kologbo (prononcez OK !) est le mad afrobeat professor. Du statut d’assistant personnel de Fela, il fait une entrée fracassante dans Africa 70 où son jeu de guitare allie transe et envoûtement. C’est ce côté furieux et incendiaire qu’il dégage auprès de Tony Allen et Seun Kuti. En tête d’une nouvelle formation de solides afrobeat crazy people, son dernier album qui paraît opportunément en ce mois de novembre 2009 - mélange de root, ragga et de joujoux monstrueux d’afrobeat, groove magistralement. Kologbo est une force de l’afrobeat. www.myspace.com/kologbo Kiala Afrobeat Jungle.Kiala est un chanteur guitariste hors pair. Pourvoyeur de beats explosifs, il rentre dans Egypt 80 au moment où Fela venait de donner un nouveau souffle à Africa 70. Créateur des Ghetto Blaster, groupe pionnier d’Afrobeat en Europe qui enflamma la scène mondiale, il vient d’enregistrer un dernier album - voyage festif à travers le monde.L’afrobeat aux influences root-blue-funk brille d’images puissantes et de groove contagieux. Kiala est un ambassadeur inlassable de l’afrobeat. www.myspace.com/kialafriends Dj Ness (From GetUpAndThink) Afrobeat, highlife, afro funk et electro-jazz...www.myspace.com/nessmanagement Retrouver Hilaire Penda Quartet en concert gratuit au Forum de la Bellevilloise de 20h à 22h www.myspace.com/pendahilaire
La Bellevilloise 19, rue Boyer 75020 Paris Tél : 01.46.36.07.07 Métr