Injo

Gambian percussionist and singer Ebou Sanyang formed Matuki in Bristol last year and their live debut was at Glastonbury Festival. They are an 11-piece Afrobeat, funk and urban groove band with an enthusiastic and youthful line-up fronted by some older and more experienced members. While Afrobeat is the basis of their sound Matuki cleverly introduce other elements that make their musical fusion eminently enjoyable. On the final two linked tracks on Injo, for example, the pace is slowed right down with a talking drum accenting a poetic spoken vocal over a bluesy guitar.

Matuki are already clearly an accomplished ensemble despite their comparatively short time together. Underpinning the sound is a funky and relentless wah-wah guitar with a punchy bass leading the tight rhythm section; saxophone and trumpet effortlessly punctuate. Two excellent female backing singers occasionally sing lead lines but generally the vocals are sung by bandleader Sanyang. The two female voices are soulful and warrant more opportunity to be a feature of the band – perhaps giving an even greater variety to the sound. Matuki have an extensive list of summer bookings, at which they will be playing from and selling copies of this excellent album.