Hard to believe that such a dire and dramatic year could inspire such an abundance of remarkable albums. Or maybe, on the contrary, the multitude of emotions sparked by the pandemic and our new life’s circumstances might have been the main reasons why musicians were able to write, record and...
Tag Archives: South Africa
Preview of the album: This Album is no longer available however if you want to receive exclusive access to a free album like this each month just sign up to our monthly newsletter by filling in the form below: Track List: 1. DUB INC – Maché Bécif (Live Acoustic...
Every now and then (and by far, it happens more “now” than “then”), Jo’burg and its music scene surprise us with the new release of one of their offspring. The city and its cultural environment, because of its social fabric and history, is a tireless forge of talents, ideas, creativity...
Every month, we bring you a collection of the best world music-related videos. That’s our way to give value to too often overlooked, rich and diverse artistic expressions. Listen with your eyes! Watch the full playlist:
Lucas Keen makes a rendez-vous with gqom – the South African dance music that emerged in the Durban hills and has gone global from Marvel’s Black Panther to Beyonce’s Black is King. Listen for the blueprint to making a gqom track and learn how to gwara gwara the signature dance...
We’re really more than glad to see that Bandcamp’s Fridays have become a thing and music lovers are increasingly embracing and supporting them (next to supporting musicians and labels) month after month. The 7th Bandcamp’s Friday has just started, so we though to virtually crate dig the latest releases from...
![Album Review: Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela – Rejoice [World Circuit Records; March 2020]](http://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/allen-masekela-rejoice-335x335.jpg)
With the very recent passing of Tony Allen, this set of recordings has special significance. He and South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela had been planning on making a record together for years and in 2010 this finally was about to become a reality. Producer Nick Gold got the two titans...
![Album Review: Derek Gripper – A Year of Swimming [New Cape Records; April 2020]](http://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/derek-gripper-a-year-of-swimming-cover-335x335.jpg)
In keeping with the traditional, classical style guitar techniques, Derek Gripper, once again, respectfully represents the quintessence of a traditional West African kora. Derek utilises his classically trained handiwork in favour of this tradition, of which the album delivers generously. The rhythmical complexities and soulful embellishments akin to the West...
![Album Review: Spoek Mathambo – Tales From The Lost Cities [TEKA Records; February 2020]](http://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/spoek-mathambo-tales-335x335.jpg)
‘Remember back when good rap was just a cool dance hit / Even though it wasn’t saying shit’, Paris spat on his militant debut The Devil Made Me Do It. Released only three months before Rodney King’s assault, it made an accurate prediction about the future of hip-hop. Try looking...
It’s been 15 years since Nthato Mokgata, better known as Spoek Mathambo, began composing, producing and releasing music and in the 15 years of doing so, he has also brought the South African scene forward. We don’t like to make extensive use of words like tastemaker or trendsetter, but in...