On the Romance of Being

Based in the Amandawe township in KwaZulu-Natal, Desire Marea has held a place at the centre of South Africa's queer electronic scene for years now. As one half of Jo’burg performance art outfit FAKA, they tapped into the sounds of gqom and kwaito. On their 2020 solo debut, Desire, they leaned into a more ceremonial sound, mixing elements of jazz and avant-garde sound design with clear homage to Nguni and Ndau traditional music. Marea's second solo album, On the Romance of Being, is also their first as a trained sangoma – a spiritual healer who uses music to invoke ancestral spirits. And it would appear, with the help of a 13-piece orchestra, these spirits can get quite chatty.

Opener ‘Ezulwini’ runs from delicate classical instrumentation into a soaring score led by Marea's powerful voice urging the listener off the ground. ‘Be Free’ mixes elements of jazz percussion and gospel brass to help Marea tell the story of a lover in denial. Closer ‘Banzi’ proves to be the standout though, building from rich, lilting harmonies to electric pandemonium across nine-and-a-half minutes of whiplash rhythms, squealing horns and frenzied vocalisations. This addition to Marea's eclectic catalogue proves itself to be compelling, uplifting and provocative.