African Journey

Glenn Keiles is an established composer and producer who first opened a studio in Brixton, London in 1982, spending the years since composing for film and TV, and writing, producing, arranging, recording and mixing music across a range of styles and genres. African Journey captures what happened when he returned to his home country of South Africa, determined to ‘record Southern African influenced and traditional music.’

The result is an 18-track record that is partly presented in the spirit of field recordings (‘Xhosa Initiation Song 1’ and ‘Xhosa Initiation Song 2’ are made with people living in the Eastern Cape Ngqoko village, where Keiles headed at the suggestion of ethnomusicologist Andrew Tracey) and is also the sound of someone – sensitively, thoughtfully and with tenderness – seeking a regenerative reconnection with his youthful roots. This is most visible on the two tracks Keiles recorded with the sublimely gifted Pops Mohamed whose kora playing powerfully and poignantly connects Glenn Keiles’ compositions ‘The Hot Sun’ and ‘Cry for Africa’ with Africa’s deep ancestral musical well.