Kenyan and German artists make ‘joint’

BLNRB is the product of an amazing cultural exchange project in 2009 that saw

Kenyan artists lend their creativity to the Berlin sound, known globally for electronic music excellence.

The result is an acquired taste, but it can slowly grow on you. Goethe-Institut, together with Out Here Records, go together some of Berlin’s top experimental artists (Teichmann, Jahcoozi and Modeselektor) put them on a plane to Nairobi to meet some of Kenya’s finest and make music under the hot Nairobi sun.

There’s a bit of the city’s fire spat on Madhouse, a track featuring Nazizi, Sasha Perera, Abbas and with the electro excellence of Jahcoozi. You hear a more laid back trance feel on Dirty Laundry featuring Abbas, Lon Jon, Kimya and the beat by Teichman.

A very interesting, catchy and beautiful song, Msoto Millions, tells the story of many Nairobi residents. It features Ukoo Flani and Jahcoozi. This song is a great example of how such cultural collaborations can bring out amazing results. Very Necessary reunites Necessary Noize as Wyre and Nazizi chant through an addictive Teichmann beat.

You must get your dancing shoes on for Living Room by Ukoo Flani and Teichmann – what clever fusion. Nazizi and Abbas get lyrical on MonkeyFlip on a melancholic head banging Modeslektor beat. Michel Ongaro voice oozes through Kumbuka with Abbas and Jahcoozi.

Then enter the Nairobi electro geniuses of Just A Band on Kibera Benga, an electronic symphony – with Maasai Mbili, William Wawero, and Modeselektor. Once again Just A Band shine on Away a mind blowing thought provoking love joint featuring Michel, Teichmann and Jahcoozi. This is a brilliant piece of work you must get a hold of it.

For more info visit www.blog.goethe.de/

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