Track out of "hot stuff".

Cover design by David Matos.

Hot Stuff (excerpt)

Video for 'I Don't Feel My Legs' youtu.be/FbdaNVrmHhE

In South Africa, the Ama Gogela is large bee known for its strength and ferociousness. Durban trio Phelimuncasi use this avatar as a metaphor for their music. "We believe our music is irresistible, you can't sleep or chill while it's playing," they explain. "The same thing happens when that bee hits you hard. Once it stings you, you can't manage it, it's painful. It's like our songs - once you listen, you can't stop."

"Ama Gogela" follows Phelimuncasi's acclaimed 2020 debut "2013-2019", and once again spotlights the dynamism of Durban's globally prestigious gqom scene. Based in the Mlaszi township, vocalists Malathon, Makan Nana and Khera initially came together in 2012, driven by a desire to illustrate and soundtrack their leftist activist work. Together with some of their neighborhood's most influential producers, they've become notorious for releasing some of Durban's most exceptional music, harnessing gqom's dancefloor futurism and South Africa's ancient theatrical and storytelling traditions simultaneously.

This comprehensive full-length again links Phelimuncasi with regular collaborators DJ MP3 and DJ Scoturn, adding locals DJ Nhlekzin, DJ Ndakx, and SVBKVLT-signed South Korean producer NET GALA as a wildcard. And despite the range of individual talent, the album is exceptionally cohesive, woven together by the trio's conversational call-and-response vocals and unforgettable energy. Phelimuncasi's philosophy is evident immediately on 'I don't feel like legs', as the three MCs alternate between their local language isiZulu and English over police sirens, thick bass and dense percussive chatter. It serves as a call to action for anyone listening, whether you're able to unpack the lyrics or not - like the album's namesake, it's got a sting that won't let you escape.

NET GALA's idiosyncratic sounds underpin the early highlight 'Ngiphupha Izinto', linking ballroom rhythms with early electronic squelches and psy-trance bass to accompany Phelimuncasi's dextrous lyrical back-and-forth. After that brief detour, we're back in Durban with the DJ Scoturn-produced 'Maka Nana', where throaty-voiced MC Bhejane joins the trio for his first guest spot, gurgling bafflingly over gqom staple syncopated toms and ruffled drones. DJ Ndaxy crafts sneak-attack hooks out of mbira clangs on 'Kolamula Ukusa', while Scoturn turns in an inverted bass-heavy slither on 'Uyaphi WeNano', allowing guest vocalist Mafethan the space to shine.

Phelimuncasi manage the impossible on "Ama Gogela", meticulously crafting music that's revolutionary and educational without losing sight of the dancefloor. It's party music that's addictive and indelible, fueled by opposition, dissent and a textured understanding of South Africa's artistic past, present and future.

Phelimuncasi - I Don't Feel My Legs (prod DJ Nhlekzin)

TASCAM DR-40X

CTM festival @ RSO Berlin - Feb 4th 2023

1 OCP - Scarleet
2 monoton - hause - cudno
3 monoton - adam und eva (bonus) - cudno


OCP, Monoton - Scarleet, Hause, Adam und Eva (Le Mashup)

A sountrack inspired by the documentary, "The One Who Runs Away Is the Ghost." - a mixtape from Hainbach that laid the foundations for his score.

Full interivew: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/hainbach-the-monday-is-ok-mix/

@hainbach

FULL FEATURE AND IVW

Hainbach - The Monday Is OK Tape Mix

In this interview we hear from collective members of Sonoscopia space in Porto, Portugal. This space is a community focused centre that provides a non-commercial orientation for artistic creation and performance. An important space for local alternative culture in Porto but also for the many folks from all over the world who both perform and participate in residencies at the space. 

For more information on Sonoscopia visit:

https://sonoscopia.pt/en

Thank you to my friend Diana Duta in Brussels for making the original connection.

Stefan Christoff produces this artist interview series, Art in Action, broadcasts monthly on:

Radio AlHara, Palestine 
On the first Friday of each month at 3pm in Bethlehem and 8am eastern time (radioalhara.net)

CKUT 90.3 FM, Montréal
On the third Friday of each month at 11am (ckut.ca) 

CJLO 1690 AM, Montreal
On the second Thursday of each month at 8am. (cjlo.com)

Art in Action interview - Sonoscopia space in Porto, Portugal

In a <a href="http://www.stfuporto.com">STFU Porto 2009</a> aftermath, here is a recording of the space ambient set from our local portuguese friend <a href="http://ocp.pt.vu/">ocp</a>. He has recently also been recently releasing under his own netlabel <a href="http://editoradoporto.blogspot.com/">EdP</a>.

ocp - fds

2 year overdue dark ambient compilation featuring long and new enoughrecords collaborators by the likes of deison, elìn, erratic, idle sunder, mystified, nightech, ocp, rngmnn, lithis, vägskäl and jukka-pekka flander. additional 2d art gallery by <a href="http://www.omit-art.com/">Timo Harju</a>.

ocp - dim

1ª Hora / 1st Hour

ocp - Lazy Dub # Arctic Dub (Sursumcorda)
https://arcticdub.bandcamp.com/
Maria - Padrão de azul # Monster Jinx
Maria - ICDWYL # Monster Jinx
Aera - All The Birds # Permanent Vacation
Aera - A Child's Dance # Permanent Vacation
Davide Squillace - Iron Odyssey # Crosstown Rebels
Dennis Allen - Tree of Self # Monog
Takecha - Step For Mood # Love Potion
Takecha - Calm Imagination # Love Potion
Aleks - City Break # Organic Analogue Records 
EMMA - Fog
https://emma.bandcamp.com/releases
Pedro Vian - Colours of Infinity # M&M Discos
Pedro Vian - El Sueño Lúcido (Massimiliano Pagliara Remix) # M&M Discos

2ª Hora / 2nd Hour

Taron-Trekka - Consoli # Freude Am Tanzen 
Taron-Trekka - Segelboot # Freude Am Tanzen 
Tom Trago - The Creation of Lalibela # Dekmantel
HedUbble - Looking Into # Monog
Retro Spectrum - He Said # Mont Lake Records
Sinfol - Pull Back # Anagram
Esteban Adame - Throwing Signs # Dolly
Psychedelic Research Lab - ​Keep On Climbin' Mix 1 # Firehouse Records
Audiojack - Warehouse # Knee Deep In Sound