Riddem

Art is a mirror of the individual and given the fact that people are just about everywhere, the many fashions of self expression can reflect the current state of all things social, political, and cultural. That's a pretty broad association but, right and wrong, it's in mind. I'm using this train of thought to get to know whatever part of the world I end up haunting for a spell, with music as the focus. In short, the music here is fascinating for a thousand different reasons.

Africa, specifically Uganda, is caught in a tryst between tradition and progress, like many places in the world. Such an ordeal is captured perfectly in the local music. The cheery Caribbeanesque guitar sounds and sunny vocals that previously coloured life around town are still around, but hanging by a moment. What's New that is beginning to sweep into the scene is a medley of past influences and everything bad about American Top 40 radio. The difference is electronics. The Beanie Manesque vocals that get watered through Pro Tools then stacked onto recycled dancehall beats is a congregation torn between tradition and modern urbania, something not completely original. But that's just the radio. There are of course quite a few shining moments.
Here are the first of my favorites.

BLK JKS hail from South Africa and the noise they make is glorious. A safe spell would have them as Africa's Mars Volta, but even that is a bit distant. Sun drenched jazz at a metal pace meets waves of reverb. TV On The Radio if they rocked. I can't do it justice, see for yourself.
BLK JKS- Lakeside