Molende

Sticking true to the experimentalism of Nyege Nyege Tapes’ releases, Titi Bakorta’s debut album, Molende, gathers vastly distinct soundscapes and unanticipated noises, somehow, into something certainly new and exciting, yet still cohesive. Songs such as the title track are clearly rooted in melodic patterns familiar to those who know Congolese band music, with rolling arpeggio guitar licks and recitative vocals. Other tracks, such as ‘Nyonso Epesameli Nga’, also reflect the many travels of Bakorta, now settled in Kampala via Dubai and elsewhere. ‘Laisse Moi Dancer’ springs from nowhere a third of the way into the record, with some trance-inducing polyphony between the guitar and drums, infused with sporadic, trippy electronic sounds. It’s followed by the anthemic ‘Grand Kasai’ in which Bakorta’s powerful voice is drenched in luscious reverb and driven along by joyful accompaniment.

For a short album it packs a lot in and you really get the sense it’s a portrayal of Bakorta – all the different facets of an individual and their experiences, displayed in an honest, messy way. No single listen through Molende leaves you feeling as though you can comprehend its entirety; surprising and full of intrigue, for that alone it’ll keep you coming back.