A Certain Ratio have shared their searing afrobeat-inspired track, ‘Afro Dizzy’, written around drum samples recorded by the late Nigerian master percussionist Tony Allen.
A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio have shared their searing afrobeat-inspired track, ‘Afro Dizzy’, written around drum samples recorded by the late Nigerian master percussionist Tony Allen.
The new single is the latest clue of what to expect from their forthcoming studio album, 1982 - out on Mute on 31 March 2023.
‘Afro Dizzy’ features one of Manchester’s fastest-rising neo-soul musicians Ellen Beth Abdi, though a newcomer to A Certain Ratio, it says a lot about the band’s progressive instincts that she’s already as central to the process as the members who’ve been there since the 1970s. For ‘Afro Dizzy’ she penned her own lyrics around a whirling instrumental based on a sample pack of drums by Tony Allen. ACR, who have long idolised Allen, had hoped to one day work with him, and wrote the music for the track just days after he died, in 2020.
Watch the video, an animation from artist and musician Tom Furse, and keep your eyes peeled for Tony Allen, who can be seen via archive footage
Even by the band’s high standards - which include a gleeful disregard for boundaries of style and genre, their eye fixed firmly on constant movement forwards - their latest studio album 1982 is multidimensional. Recorded by the core ACR lineup of Jez Kerr, Martin Moscrop and Donald Johnson, alongside Tony Quigley, Matthew Steele and Ellen Beth Abdi, it shoots off in every direction, whether via searing Afrobeat, mind-melting jazz breakdowns or moody electronic experiments.
And the album title? Although 1982 might conjure memories of the year that saw ACR put out both the acclaimed Sextet and the cult favourite I’d Like To See You Again, it’s more of a playful red herring than an invitation to nostalgia.
Looking backwards and forwards all at once, drawing on influences from across every spectrum, 1982 is an unpredictable record that will reward a dedicated listener dozens of times over.
More info at https://www.facebook.com/acertainratio
Werkha
Werkha (aka Tom Leah) is a multi-instrumentalist, producer & DJ that hails from Manchester and has been releasing music for over a decade.
His debut album landed in 2015 on the acclaimed Brighton imprint Tru Thoughts, while he’s currently signed to Worldwide Award-winning London label First Word Records, who released his self-produced sophomore album ‘All Werk Is Play’ in early 2022. This featured collabs with MC Chunky (Eglo Records / Swamp 81), Ellen Beth Abdi (A Certain Ratio), Kemani Anderson (Secret Night Gang), Nick Blacka (GoGo Penguin) and Tom Driessler (Adele / Tom Misch / Jordan Rakei) amongst others, whilst he’s also collaborated and remixed artists such as Quantic, Bryony Jarman-Pinto, Marcos Valle and Andrew Ashong.
His music has had recent support across BBC 6 Music & 1Xtra courtesy of Jamz Supernova, Tom Ravenscroft, Huey Morgan & Afrodeutsche, as well as love from the likes of DJ Paulette, Scratch DVA, Zakia Sewell (NTS) & Jyoty (Rinse FM).
Werkha’s music fuses analogue jazz-funk vibes with modern dance music electronics, creating a number of uptempo compositions that nestle somewhere between broken beat and breakbeat. Squelchy synths & delectable drums ride alongside live horns, flute, bass, harp, guitar & vocals.
His vibrant energetic live shows often include a selection of hand-picked highly-talented Manchester artists accompanying him, and have set dances alight across Europe; in recent times at venues such as Low Four Studioin Manchester and The Jazz Cafe in London, with festival appearances last Summer at We Out Here and Moovin. In past years, he also toured extensively with artists like Bonobo, Chet Faker and Mr Scruff.
An incredible innovator in the studio, and one of the most refreshingly eclectic live acts in the UK.
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