IIII+IIII

Puerto Rico's capital, San Juan, sits on the Atlantic coast, looking out towards the African continent, 5,000km to the east. ÌFÉ's bandleader, Otura Mun, is deeply connected to the Yoruba religion, and a sense of West African spirituality permeates this beautiful album. IIII+IIII is a debut that juxtaposes a traditional sensibility with electronic minimalism and the result is both joyous and mystical. ‘Yumavision’ is a stellar slice of Afro-pop, with a delicate beat, spacious percussion and a devilishly catchy vocal line that's subdued but infectious. It's often the case that AutoTune can be overbearing, but here it adds to the effect, particularly on ‘Umbo (Come Down)’, which is redolent of the rapper Drake's finest moments vocally, but with the addition of exquisite Afro-Caribbean rhythms. The finest moment is ‘3 Mujeres (Iború Iboya Ibosheshé)', a track that strikes the perfect balance between the group's traditional roots and their electronic aesthetic. A warm vocal line, rich polyphony and a gorgeous synth pattern (that sounds oddly reminiscent of a cuica) are supported by a funky clave. Four minutes in, the electronics fall away, stripping the track back to its core elements, while losing none of its panache. Founded upon a rich spiritual tradition, this is an album steeped in vitality and charm with an undeniably contemporary edge: a stunning debut.