After a recent jaunt back into the studio, Afro-funk marvel and previous collaborator with Hugh Masekela and Kelenkye Band, Jagger Botchway has fashioned a new album with Cultures of Soul. For the new project, he’s sought help from musicians he’s played with during his career to help emanate a unique soca and highlife flavour.
With an aim to produce diverse interpretations of this new material, Cultures of Sound have rounded up a host of remix wizards, including Ruf Dug, Africaine 808 and Alma Negra, to work their magic on Jagger’s numbers. Well, of course hearing a loving repurpose is never a chore, and this musing from Greenwood Rhythm Coalition (part of New York label Names You Can Trust) strips back Jagger’s ‘Take Time’ but still retains that wonderful sun-drenched sway.
Steered by gentle percussive shakes and drum beats, the instrumentation and melody feel effortless and unassuming. Summertime feels are provided by vibrant highlife guitar plucks whirling above a funk soaked bassline; you can almost feel the sun streaming down on your face. As the rework reaches its bright climax, smooth sax puffs come to the fore, merging gracefully with the harmonious African vocals.
‘Odze Odze’ is out now on Cultures of Soul – buy from Juno.
