Back catalogue: Funk Soul & Jazz

Review: Khadim is a smart evolution of Ndagga Rhythm Force's sound-stripped down, spacious and spiritually charged. Abandoning guitars and full percussion, the four track album hones in on minimal live drumming, dubby synths (including Mark Ernestus's Prophet-5), and Mbene Diatta Seck's powerful, expressive voice. Each track is emotionally rich and narratively distinct while touching on Senegalese history, Sufi devotion and street-level struggles. Songs like 'Lamp Fall' and 'Khadim' pay homage to revered religious figures while blending traditional rhythms with contemporary electronics. After years of touring, this new direction feels deeply rooted yet forward-reaching and means this album is both devotional and radical in its dubwise majesty.

Review: Moskito's roots run deep in Tembisa, South Africa, where the pulse of the streets met the groove of kwaito. Founded by Mahlubi "Shadow" Radebe and the late Zwelakhe "Malemon" Mtshali, the group initially thrived as pantsula dancers before locking into the rhythmic power of kwaito. Their debut release captures the raw, unfiltered energy of that transition. 'Idolar' and 'Why Wena' kick things off with a heady blend of infectious vocals and bass-heavy beats, while tracks like 'Kwenzenjani' and 'Impohlo' bring their gritty, township roots to the forefront. Here, the music doesn't need to be refinedieach track, like 'Mashonisa' and 'Woza', is steeped in authenticity. It's the sound of a group at the crossroads of tradition and innovation, channeling the energy of their hometown while pulling from global influences to redefine the boundaries of kwaito. This is the essence of the genre, unfiltered and unpolishediraw, urgent and full of life.