TRACKLIST
A1 Blue G.
A2 Future Pasts
A3 Yese Yese
A4 That Good Thing (Instrumental)
B1 Count Your Blessings
B2 Cover Up The Bruises
B3 Le Secret
B4 How We Got Here (Instrumental)
DESCRIPTION
Konkolo Orchestra is a Zürich/Switzerland based project initiated by multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer Alexis Malefakis. With strong jazzy afrobeat and highlife references, Konkolo Orchestra pays homage to musical innovators such as Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Tony Oladipo Allen, Ebo Taylor and many more.
This first album continues the warm, vibrant, percussive motif of the hugely popular "Blue G." single of 2022. For those who like their music to inspire journey and movement, this album is the equivalent of gatecrashing a wedding party where even granny can get her groove on.
Malefakis is hardly rewriting the afrobeat textbook here, but his production charms the listener with a confident mastery of the genre. His compositions have a distinct personality and a tight structure, and are peppered with a talented array of guest vocalists: Nongoma (South Africa), Sir Frank Karikari (Ghana) and Kitio Batola (Congo); alongside Eric Owusu (Ghana) on percussion. The uplifting lyrics and joyful melodies are held together by a powerhouse horn section bearing all the swinging hallmarks of a highlife fanfare.
Hard to define the standout tracks when the entire oeuvre gels together so well as a festive fusion. Deeply funky and syncopated, Malefakis has produced a motivational winter warmer for both feet and spirit.
Produced by A. Malefakis
Recorded by A. Malefakis and Kaspar Hensel in Zürich, Switzerland and by Florian Erlbeck in Berlin, Germany
Mixed by Florian Erlbeck in Berlin, Germany
Mastered by Christian Stickel in Vienna, Austria
Covert artwork by Spencer Robens and Ivan Muench
All songs published by Rocafort Publishing