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Africa Hitech is more than a name, it is an ideology - one that embodies its members' passions for an eclectic diaspora of electronic styles, from dub and acid to UK garage, grime, techno, house and Jamaican dancehall. Mark Pritchard and Steve Spacek stand at the intersection of all these styles (and more) and the result is a bass-fuelled manifesto: the opening salvo being 'Blen'.
Created at Red Bull Music Academy in 2007, Africa Hitech forms part of Mark Pritchard’s MPP Productions collective. MPP is a banner under which all the wide-ranging productions from this prolific producer can co- exist, released through Warp, projects include Africa Hitech, Harmonic 313 and new Reload material, amongst others.
‘Blen’ is all oxygen-sucking bass kicks and razor snares, until Spacek comes in over a chorus of insect synths. This is not the smooth Steve Spacek you may know from his eponymous band, this is Steve Spacek as a rudeboy from the future.
As a counterpoint to the paranoid bounce of the title track, the ‘Blen Remix’ stretches things out for the party. Flipping the vocals over percolating Garage beats and drenching it in swelling synths, it might as well be a masterclass for those trying to regain the sound of London circa 2000.
While the B side ‘The Sound Of Tomorrow’ may seem at odds, it’s just an inkling of the range that Africa Hitech will cover in the coming months. A deep cut of synth soul full of ricocheting drum machines and vocoder choruses, its title is a fully accurate summary of the Africa Hitech aesthetic.
Tracklisting & Clips:
Fudge Fingas provides a three track e.p for this solo release on Prime Numbers. "About Time" is a taster of his forthcoming debut album set for release in April. After a handful of highly regarded tracks featured on Prime Numbers' signature ep series and the much coveted Firecracker 10"'s, Fudge Fingas has produced a set finely displaying his instinctive ability to fuse sounds from a wide spectrum of styles. "Its About Time" opens the ep with a midtempo house meditation, sounding something like a meeting of Larry Heard and Ivor Cutler. Its melancholic beginnnings give way to an insistent mantra as the track builds in intensity.
In keeping with the true meanings of house music “Me & U†dwells on the mysteries of love. Here Mr Fingas confesses his inability to function without his better half. The production is reminiscent of a classic 90’s garage release on Bottom Line or Fourth Floor. “MmmmHmmm†is an older, matured piece from Fudge’s repetoire. Eschewing the traditional 4/4 time signature for a 3/4 feel this track is his tribute to jazz-techno pioneers such as Juan Atkins and post-rock mavericks like Tortoise.
Here on ‘GB Interprets His Contemporaries’, he does exactly that! GB remixes tracks from Flying Lotus, Muhsinah, Little Dragon, etc. and shows his wide range of production skills, thus proving that he’s still on top of the beat game.
Gabriel Reyes-Whittaker is the principal omposer/producer and director of GIFTED & BLESSED. He is most widely known for his work under the pseudonym GB. Having worked with a variety of standout musicians including Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, J*DaVeY, Steve Spacek, KRS-One, Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Jody Watley, Joy Jones, and many others, Gabriel offers an outstandingly wide variety of sounds in his repertoire. His previous work can be found on world renown record labels like Ninja Tune, FiveSix, Plug Research, and his highly successful debut full length ‘Soundtrack For Sunrise’ on Sound In Color. He is an active advocate and practitioner of therapeutic sound healing techniques, particularly within the urban communities of South Los Angeles. In addition to his growing catalog of recordings and compositions, GB is also noted for his film and television music services, which have already been provided to major networks such as CBS and Fox, as well as to a variety of independent filmmakers and visual artists.
This time they feature a heavyweight collaboration between Mr Scruff & Kaidi Tatham who provide a smouldering jazz-house production with Kaidi leading the way on keys and flute on top of a chunky, bottom-heavy groove.
Motor City Drum Ensemble drops a killer raw cut. A heavily smashed jackin’ disco workout with all the markings of a fine Cajual dub or early Striclty Rhyhtm. The track oozes soul and is unpretentiously aimed at the dancefloor. Once again Danilo Plessow proves less is more.
TettoryBad are Japan´s Masaya Fantasista & Grooveman Spot (aka Tettory BLK) plus London´s Simbad! As they Unite, they created TettoryBad to record an outstanding album. This is a first tastemaker to the upcoming album, feat. two true highlights:
“Don´t push me†feat. Londons finest MC, the man TY, known for his albums on Big Dada Records as well as for some fine features and collaborations. On the B-side there´s the mighty title track of the album, “Uniteâ€, feat. the vocal talents of latest sensation, Fatima. This track was already licensed to Karen P.´s compilation “Broadcastingâ€, out on Sonar Kollektiv 2008.
Upcoming sensation The Clonious remixes “Don´t push me†adding his magic touch. DJ Buzz of Waxolutionists fame (new Waxos album out now on Sunshine!) teams up with Supercity team-players Twintowas, to create a monster remix of the title track “Uniteâ€. To round up that outstanding package, we have included two more original songs taken from the album, the great “Short Love Taleâ€, feat. the vocal talents of Young Gun, Mika Arisaka & Yuri, and also “Space Connection†feat. B-BanDJ.
TettoryBad are Jazzy Sport head-coach Masaya Fantasista, Japans hip-hop sensation Grooveman Spot and Londons jack of all trades Simbad.
Masaya Fantasista and Grooveman Spot are also known under their production alias Tettory BLK.
Masaya Fantasista runs Jazzy Sport together with Taro Kesen, and he’s also a great DJ and full-time sportsman, as well as producing as part of Breakthrough (album released 2005 on Sony Japan) and Physical Sound Sport.
Grooveman Spot aka DJ KOU-G released his highly anticipated debut album “Eternal Development†back in 2007 on Jazzy Sport/Planet Groove, feat. guests like Count Bass D, Miss Jack Davey, Capitol A, M.E.D. or Grap Luva. He´s also producing as part of Enbull.
Simbad is well known for many years, emerging out of London’s broken beat scene. The man released numerous singles and remixes under many different aliases, most recent the Izmabad collabo with Karizma and his solo-album “Supersonic Revelation“ on Swedens finest Raw Fusion Records.
As Tettory BLK and Simbad Unite for one special project, they created TettoryBad!
To pre-order the upcoming album on CD, contact us at info@conch.co.nz
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