Audio Asia: immersive Afro textures on Hamza Rahimtula & Bassekou Kouyate's 'Ben Kadi'

Title: Ben Kadi (Afro Mix)
Artist: Hamza Rahimtula & Bassekou Kouyate
Label: Wind Horse Records
Release Date: July 30

New Delhi's Hamza Rahimtula returns to long-player action with his latest immersive offering, 'Banjara Series – Mali'.

The expansive 10 track album is inspired by the vibrant West African nation and sees Hamza collaborate with a carefully chosen selection of artists to help embody the country's effervescent spirit. The music effortlessly blends traditional instrumentation with richly organic deep house sensibilities, with highlights arriving thick and fast. Opening track 'Nindjougou' sees Hamza rework Madou Kouyate's original into a floor-filling fervour before Kouyate senior joins the party on 'Tolon' for a life-affirming sing-along fusion. The percussive drive and atmospheric vocals of 'Neon Afro' render it another standout, while 'Timbuktu' and 'Mali Tech' display a slightly tougher edge to Rahimtula's production arsenal. Elsewhere, the 'Soumba Soumba' collaboration with Loopy Juice makes a welcome re-appearance, having previously seen the light of day via Selekta Recordings earlier this year.

We've opted to play you 'Ben Kadi' (Afro Mix) – one of three featured collaborations with revered Malian musician and Ngoni ba band member, Bassekou Kouyate. Here, infectious percussion joyfully builds to provide an undeniable rhythm under which Kouyate's hypnotic ngoni licks magnificently soar. The tight production is embodied with modern dancefloor gloss while respectfully allowing room for the exquisite nuances of the original instrumentation, representing a guarantee when it comes to setting an evocative club mood.

Hamza Rahimtula Banjara Series - Mali' is out now, you can buy it here