Rwandance

Moments in German multi-instrumentalist Andi Otto's third album could easily find home on experimental dance floors, but that doesn't mean this release does injustice to the musical traditions that it seeks to platform. Although the tracks occasionally wander aimlessly through synth-laden psychedelia, Rwandance is actually a refreshing and intriguing break from other attempts to bring traditional African music into global electronica, with an organic sense of movement driven by the Rwandan instruments.

With Evariste Karinganire's recitative vocals weaving throughout, the first four tracks nod to Zazou/Bikaye/Cy1's 1983 cult classic Noir et Blanc. The sparse instrumentation with electronic blips and echoed percussion imbue the tracks with a dubby tinge. Trance-like pulsing riffs, a traditional feature of the umuduri (East African one-string musical bow), shift mesmerisingly underneath, pulling beats in surprising ways. Meanwhile Karinganire's often fragile-sounding voice pierces through, luring you deeper. The second half sees Otto experimenting more with soundscapes; particularly on ‘Ronde de Cinq’, where acid synth lines meets cut-up vocal samples and a dense layer of percussion and umuduri in a slowly building 3/4 shuffle. Whereas ‘Amahamba’ harks to deep house, blending cello and warm synths. From the plethora of ideas overflowing from this record Otto has moulded something quite exciting.