African Fabrics

Daniel Haaksman isn’t a novice when it comes to adding a dancehall sensibility to traditional styles. He has previously worked with Diplo and MIA on Brazil's bass-heavy baile funk styles. The Berlin-based DJ's newest project takes its inspiration from British-Nigerian visual artist Yinka Shonibare, whose works using textiles and cloth suggested this album's name. Conceptually, Haaksman's music doesn’t quite match up to Shonibare's incisive critique of colonialism; it's more of an appreciation of anything electronic emanating from the African continent. Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable listen.

Opener ‘Akabongi’ has a propulsive beat and a welcome feature from South African rapper Spoek Mathambo. ‘Rename the Streets’ is a great piece of work, which delicately builds texture from a simple mbira (thumb piano)loop culminating in an expansive, marauding groove akin to Bonobo's earlier output on Days to Come. A few throwaway tracks aside, there is a lot to commend here. The blistering pace of ‘Black Coffee’ folds into the equally energetic ‘Xinguila’, which features Portuguese-Angolan band Throes + The Shine. Haaksman even tries his hand at Chicagoan footwork on ‘Aho’. African Fabrics is ambitious, all-encompassing and ultimately great fun.