Digging 4 Gold

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Sound of Africa Vol.3: House Music From Southern Africa (Full Album Download)

So, its a new year and a new set of albums and singles are in the process of being recorded for your listening pleasure.  

In the meantime, here’s another installment of the newer sounds coming out of Africa.  This time around, I migrated towards the south for a collection of afro-house from South Africa and Angola.  I was first exposed to South African house back in 2009.  Immediately, I noticed the two distinct ends of the spectrum in which most of their stuff falls under. On one end you have artists like BlackCoffee making soulful New York-type house, often times with sultry vocals and warm bass lines. On the other end, you have artists like Black Motion and DJ Choice who emphasize the cold tribalistic echo of the drum.

Each recalls elements standardized by various house scenes of America while embodying the differing realities of life in South Africa.  For instance, Dj Kent’s crossover hit, “Falling,” conjures up the cosmopolitan sophistication of Johannesburg, a perfect soundtrack for a ride through its trendy Yoeville neighborhood, while songs like “Amaphoyisa” or “Bhanani Movoko” seem to come straight out of the township Shebeens (local bars) where the sound is cold and mechanical.

I especially recall those late nights walking through crowded shebeens, which were nothing more than gutted out matchbook government houses, wondering how strange it was to see the long arm of our very own Midwest’s musical legacy, for these two dichotomies are somewhat reminiscent of the distinct differences that exist between Chicago and Detroit: deep warm melodies from one and hard industrial preciseness from the other. 

Recently, Angola has been getting into the game, with up-and-coming producers moving away from their beloved Kuduro to create their own style of house.  An all Angolan house mix is already in the works so stay tuned. For now, enjoy this latest installment of the Sound of Africa!

Sound of Africa Vol.3: House Music From Southern Africa (Full Album Download)

1 BHANANI MOVOKO (DEEP VERSION) - BLACK MOTION

2 NO LOOKING BACK FEAT. ANELISA (POINT 5 AFRO MIX) - SOUL ESSENTIAL

3 RAFIKI FEAT. P OLIVEIRA - C.9INE

4 KAKARAMPA (ORIGINAL MIX) - BLACK MOTION

5 CASANOVA - DJ CHOICE

6 AMAPHOYISA (REMIX FEAT. BLACK MOTION AND TUNA) - DJ FRESCA

7 CANOA (AFRO-FLAVA MIX) X THE RHYTHM - DJ GREGOR SALTO FT DJ X-TRIO

8 SEE YOU LATER (WONDER) FEAT. JOAO ORECCHIA - C.9INE

9 COME TO ME - BLACKCOFFEE

10 WORKBIRD (RENATO XTROVA’S ANCESTRAL SOUL TREATMENT) - LEROY STYLES

11 FALLING (BLACK MOTION MIX) - DJ KENT

12 SOMETHING GOOD FT. RELOADED & BHEKZIN TERRIS - DJ CLOCK

13 JUJU FEAT. ZAKES BANTWINI (MINDLO & ESSENTIAL I DEEPER DUB MIX) - BLACKCOFFEE

14 JUST ANOTHER DAY (FT XOLIM) - BLACK MOTION

15 HEY HEY (BLACK COFFEE REMIX) - DENNIS FERRER