This week we’d like to shift the spotlight to a new afro-electronic project chaperoned by Strut Records. It has its roots in Sierra Leone and involves an inspired coming together of Freetown’s kondi (thumb piano) specialist Sorie Kondi and US producer DJ Chief Boima (also with Sierra Leonean origins). The collaboration was kindled after Boima remixed Sorie’s original track ‘Without Money No Family’, struck by its beautiful melodies and socially conscious lyrics. Now with an established alliance under the name of the Kondi Band, the two artists have summoned a unique release of ‘acoustic dance music’.
Belle Wahallah is the entitled EP released by Strut earlier this month. It features a dark, funky original mix that integrates the spiralling kondi melodies with contemporary techno sounds and Sorie’s powerful vocals. It has all the dynamism of a big club track and, translating literally as ‘Belly Trouble’, serves as a commentary on the issue of hunger and poverty in Sierra Leone. It is accompanied by new versions from London producer Hagan and ‘father of Ancestral Soul’ Boddhi Satva and a simmering mid-tempo anthem on the B-side called ‘Yeanoh (Powe Handa Blingabe)’.
Here is the original Belle Wahallah mix:
To see last week’s ‘Pick of the Week’ click here.