Congotronics - Where's The One?

Supergroup cross-genre sounds... and a thrillingly wild ride

Regular readers will know that we like music best here at HD when it's mixed up in the often incongruous and surprising ways. Purism has its place but there's nothing quite as exciting as when musicians collaborate across genres and create something new. A recent album that pushes all the right buttons in this regard is Where's The One? by Congotronics International, a collective that brings together some of the biggest names from the Congolese music scene together with respected indie rock acts from Europe and North and South America.The ensemble includes Congolese artists Konono N°1, and Kasai Allstars, US band Deerhoof, Argentinian artist Juana Molina, Swedish pop duo Swedish duo Wildbirds & Peacedrums, and Matt Mehlan from Brooklyn band Skeletons. Where's The One? has been years in the making, having stemmed from a series of live shows back in 2011. Back and forth remote mixing and production followed, eventually resulting in a lavishly packaged double vinyl album which finally found a release this year.

The album merges the Congotronics sound (ritual trance music + makeshift amplification system) with western indie sensibilities. The new musical shoots are sometimes jarring, yet always fused with a fascinating exceitement and energy. This is polyrhythmic, experimental, boundary-pushing music. It's the sound of musicians reaching out to cross continents and language barriers. I'd say this is one of the most thrilling and genuinely original releases of the year, a truly globalist sound, one that's alive and open to exciting new musical possibilities.

 

Where's The One? is available on CD or deluxe 2LP via Crammed Discs