KOKOKO! are a collective and band from Kinshasha in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They have been making waves recently with their energetic take on electronic and Afrobeat music. Their newest release is titled Fongola and takes this energy to new heights with breathtaking, highly energetic and superbly produced tracks.
The high energy drive on tracks like “Azo Toke” brings so much energy through the pulsating beat and wailing tribal vocals. The deeper electronics and warped guitar sounding leads on “Buka Dansa” is incredibly catchy, really bringing such infectious energy. Inspired by the club and DIY culture in Congo, their music really captivates me on all levels. The powerful and aggressive string chords “L.O.V.E.” are menacing and unsettling at times, with pulsating beats and distortion bringing so much character to this track in particular. The slower, more meditative aura of “Singa” brings soothing vocals throughout, with soulful vocals throughout. The closing track “Tokoliana” is a brilliant way to end such a fun and engaging album, with dominant percussion throughout and a hypnotic electronic rhythms throughout. Other moments throughout bring the same, hypnotically manic and heavy energy throughout Fongola, as this album is an explosive insight into DIY music culture in Congo. I’m really impressed with this one, and hope you guys can enjoy it as much as I did.
Listen to KOKOKO!’s new album Fongola below via Bandcamp and don’t forget to support! Released via Transgressive.
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