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: [chimpy_form forms=”1] Tracks list: 1. Aurelio – Laru Beya [Real World Records] 00:00 – 03:51 2....
Tag Archives: Awesome Tapes From Africa
![Album Review: Ata Kak – Obaa Sima [Awesome Tapes From Africa, 3rd March 2015]](https://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/maxresdefault-3-335x336.jpg)
Whether in Ghana or anywhere else really, a man wearing a denim shirt, hat, and dark sunglasses on a front cover of an album is an invitation to jovial crowd music, and that’s exactly what Ata Kak’s Obaa Sima both promises and is. The songs on this album are electronic...
The Red Bull Music Academy Festival, happening in the UK this autumn, is bringing African rhythms to Corsica Studios on Thursday 20th October. This year marks the 10th year anniversary of Awesome Tapes From Africa, the blog-turned-label founded in 2006 by New York ethnomusicologist Brian Shimkovitz, and to celebrate in...
![Album Review: Sk Kakraba – Songs of Paapieye [Awesome Tapes from Africa, 2nd October 2015]](https://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/atfa018lp_coverlowres-335x335.jpg)
Instantly, a mysterious and fascinating percussive sound appears, full of intricate rhythms, low and dense drones, overlapping melodies and bass patterns, all of which signal originality, improvisation, tradition, virtuosity, coherence and expressivity. These are the immediate components that can be heard from Sk Kakraba through his masterful performance of the Gyil xylophone. Gyil performer, builder,...
![Album review: Awalom Gebremariam – Desdes [Awesome Tapes from Africa, 15th April 2016]](https://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/desdes-335x335.jpg)
On listening to Desdes, the title track of Eritrean exile Awalom Gebremariam‘s new album there is an immediate appeal. An acoustic instrument (a one-stringed fiddle) plays beautiful riffs, and the sweet, gentle quality of his voice draws you in. The relentless beat gives the music a hypnotic quality – at...
![Album Review: DJ Katapila – Trotro [Awesome Tapes from Africa, 19th February 2016]](https://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/atfa019-dj-katapila-art-335x335.jpg)
DJ Katapila is a popular Ghanaian DJ and producer. In the context of Ghana’s pop music landscape, Katapila’s music is singular. His unique works would otherwise be unrecognised and under-celebrated, both in the west and his native Ghana, if it wasn’t for the diligent work of Brian Shimkovitz of Awesome...
