Na Zala Zala

This is the debut album from Rey Sapienz, who grew up surrounded by the tragedy of the second Congo War at the turn of the century. Fifteen years or so later he’s become a major part of the East African and Congolese electronic underground club scene coalescing in Kampala: the co-founder of the Hakuna Kulala label and a leading electronic producer and rapper signed to the stellar Nyege Nyege Tapes. This is a potent, gritty album that has a core that is simultaneously both dark and sacred, where invincible minimalist rhythms strive with exceptional vocal melodies and washes of sound, while rap, chant and call-and-response spin their potent spell. The title-track features an almost plainsong chant accompanied by distressed electronic glitches and flickers, over which two contrasting voices, Fresh Doughis and Sapienz himself, rap enticingly. Meanwhile the percussion thrives on the tension between electronic rhythms and ‘real’ traditional percussion played by Papalas Palata (also vocalist and dancer) – minimalist but relentless and especially notable on ‘Zuwa Ba Risk’. Of course, non-Lingala speakers are going to miss out on the intricacies and meaning of the ‘flow,’ but shuddering bass drums, vibrant broken beat basslines and melodies that skip over them like skimming stones provide a richest of sonic alternatives.