Buraka Som Sistema
The wild beats of Angolan Kuduro music has been big in Lisbon clubs since the late 90s and Buraka Som Sistema - AKA Lil’ John, Riot and Conductor – have fused it with 21st century electronics to create a whole new sound. Now this electro ghettotech take on their favourite South West African music has is quickening and corrupting dancefloors all over the world on the basis of an EP with sounds not many have heard before.
Lil John and Riot began making music together in their teens, but the core of Buraka Som Sistema formed when the two began working with Angolan producer, Conductor, who brought along an extensive knowledge of Kuduro music to the equation. The three draw influences from the music of their youth and culture, fusing it with the inspiration taken from music genres as diverse as techno, drum’n’bass, hip hop and dance music. A revolving cast of talents complete the picture for Buraka, including guest vocals from Petty, M.I.A., Pongolove, Kalaf, Nolay and DJ Znobia.
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Releases
BLACK DIAMOND (Enchufada/Sony BMG) - PT - 2008
BLACK DIAMOND (Fabric) - UK - 2008
This is Buraka. This is the rising of the outskirts as a creative force. This is living real PAL(p)OP, redefining the concept of World Music. This is music for all kinds of worlds, let´s just call it Black Diamond. The first sample of the album arrived by web - the musical site Pitchfork Media premiered the single´s videoclip Sound of Kuduro, with vocal participations of many mc´s: the British M.I.A, who is used to sail around outcast sonorities; the Angolans Puto Prata, Saborosa and Dj Znobia, one of the builders of new kuduro. The video, filmed in Luanda, served as introduction to the universe of Kuduo. There were immediate reactions and positive judgements gathered at blogosphere resulted in a virtual happening. Geographically speaking, the 12 tracks introduced in Black Diamond, Buraka Som Sistema lead us to London, where Virus Syndicate invites us to enter the bass and harsh sonorities of dubstep. It made us feel as if we were in Luanda of Bruno M, with his unmistakable flow and within 4 minutes he connects the gap to Cidade de Deus, where Deize Tigrona, one of the biggest voices of Baile Funk sets us in the core of the slums and reapproaches Rio de Janeiro to Lisbon, in terms of verbs and gestures. To all of those who have crossed the IC19 and facing the vastness of buildings, wondered how those people live, dream and have fun, Pongolove, the young Angolan MC (who moved to Amadora with her family) simply answers Kalemba (wegue wegue).
SOUND OF KUDURO REMIX EP (Enchufada/Sony BMG) - 2008
BSS introduce ”Sound of Kuduro Remix EP” with producer’s participations Lil’ John, Riot, Reso and The Count and Sinden (Domino, UK). Edited in June 2008 (Enchufada/ Sony BMG). This set of remixes is intended to show and sharpen the curiosity of what’s coming soon! Beyond the acclaimed “Sound of Kuduro”, it also includes “Kalemba (Wegue Wegue)” which represents the evolution of Buraka Som Sistema, manifested in the search of a unique sound that reflects its identity and that can be transversal as far as style crossing is concerned in the world of global dance music. Another important fact in this EP is the vocal guest – Pongolove, a full talented MC and a rising singer.
FROM BURAKA TO THE WORLD EP (Enchufada/Sony BMG) - 2007
After the clamour in Lisbon caused by Buraka Som Sistema, here is an EP which intends to introduce the sound of Buraka to the world. Lil’ John, Riot and Conductor gathered together and started creating a musical visit card. The beats were expanded and Petty’s entrance and other vocal participations were prepared. It’s an attempt to emphasize new ways of musical creation, which normally don’t get out of the ghettos and peripherals of big urban centres. The release of the EP “From Buraka to the world” on July 2006 (a limited edition of 750 albums only available at FNAC has sold out in one month) was the first step to a new musical identity, Progressive Kuduro: 8 tunes where the beats and vocal interventions don’t admit inertia but the movement and dance. The sequence of the following events shows how well accepted was this project: from the EP’s reedition “From Buraka to the World”in June 2007, now with 2 additional songs “Wawaba v. 1.8.” and “D…D…D…Jay” to performances at the biggest festivals in Europe, such as Glastonbury and Bestival in England, Roskilde in Denmark, EXIT in Serbia and many others worldwide.
FROM BURAKA TO THE WORLD EP (Enchufada/Sony BMG) - 2007
