Kembo

Jonathan Uliel Saldanha, a prolific linchpin producer of Nyege Nyege Tapes’ back catalogue, has combined with Kingdom Ulfame Choir, a seven-piece Congolese group, to create Kembo, a compelling and immersive listening experience from start to finish. Saldanha’s subtle effects, airy drones and light percussion create spacious soundscapes, while the choir provides raw, intimate vocals in languages including Lingala, Swahili and French, as well as speaking in tongues. The album shifts between trance-inducing tracks such as ‘Esengo Eleki’, with vocalisations and rhythms akin to polyphonic Pygmy singing, and tracks like ‘EMANUEL’, which is soothing and deep. While the timbre and pace differ throughout the album, there is a fundamental feeling that unites the collection; it is sombre yet life-affirming. A strong sense of humanity is achieved by using the voice to highlight the connections between gospel and soul, as well as the traditional and localised spiritual music of the Central African region.