Africaine 808 is the duo of Hans Reuschl and Dirk Leyers, veteran Berlin-based DJs who have more energy than artists half their age. Fueled by a nostalgia for a Berlin nightlife long gone, and a love of the heterogenous genres (hip-hop, house, jungle, ragga, jazz, and more) almost never played in sterile, 120-bpm-all-the-time clubs. With Basar, their debut, Africaine 808 has created a brand of fusion music that finds a way to undo all the unattractive possibility of that signifier. Nothing about Basar feels contrived or clunky. They unify the core values of New Orleans inflected jazz, cumbia, kwaito, and so many more regional vernaculars into an unpretentious, effortless sound. It’s a hybrid musical world that leaves enough room for a wistful ballad (“Fallen From the Stars”), a bubbly UK funky inspired track (“Language of the Bass”), and globe trotting disco (“Cosmicumbia”). This is all benefited from the addition of live instrumentation from the percussionists Dodo NKishi and Eric Owusu. Basar is an impressive feat of musical sensitivity that never comes off as heavy handed, but is pure fun for over an hour. A trip around the world is very expensive. I suggest forget the stress, let Africaine 808 stamp your passport, sit back, and let them give you a tour of the world’s funkiest rhythms. —Kevin Lozano
Source: Pitchfork – Features
