Zona Zero

Remna Schwarz dedicates this album to his father José Carlos Schwarz, a legendary figure in Bissau-Guinean culture as a poet, activist and leader of the Cobiana Djazz dance band. Sadly, Remna never really knew his father, who died in a plane crash in 1977 at the age of 27, but Zona Zero suggests he inherited much of his talent and spirit.

The album's title refers to the locations where his father and others plotted their country's independence from Portuguese rule and the title-track, ‘Cindy Ka Dadu Máma’ and ‘Té Aos’ all pack a sharp political punch as Remna questions what happened to the idealism of the revolution. ‘Kal Koldadi’ is a setting of one of his father's poems and on several tracks, including ‘Nha Balanta’, his gentle voice and lilting gumbe rhythms are reminiscent of the work of his fellow Bissau-Guinean singer-songwriter Manecas Costa.

However, his influences are drawn from a more cosmopolitan map, reflecting his peripatetic life after his father's death, growing up in Senegal, Cape Verde and France. ‘Buri Lenha’ has a Brazilian flavour, ‘Rose Angela’ is a smooth Afro pop ballad, the jazzy ‘Medi Iagu (3 Garan Di Midju)’ recalls the work of Cameroon's Richard Bona and ‘Lamzo (Kem Ki Ka Tene)’ is a slice of tropical Afro-Caribbean heaven.