Zone 6, Agege

Soaring highlife horns and harmonies jostle with hip-hop vocals and reggae rhythms to create a thoroughly engaging and very modern African sound, in this, KOG’s first solo release. The Accra, Ghana-born artist, now living and recording in Sheffield, says the album is an ‘ode’ to the traditions that have shaped him, as well as the future he embraces. As such, the sound encompasses old and new. The music is grounded in the funk and energy of highlife, but with liberal amounts of contemporary rhythms and vocals; KOG switches between styles familiar to fans of West African popular music from the last century to a more contemporary sounding soulful hip-hop (‘Lord Knows’). For good measure there’s a dose of dub in the mix, at times (especially on ‘Spirits’), which adds to the kind of African diaspora vibe that KOG seems to be developing.

It’s possible for an album of this sort to feel somewhat disordered, but KOG manages to create a musical collage that coheres nicely, using field recordings and synths to negotiate transitions and anchoring the whole around his versatile vocal stylings. Expect philosophical, as well as musical, syncretism on this very listenable and welcome addition to contemporary African fusion.