South African punk-dub ensemble BLK JKS were basically the first African indie act to make it global. The quartet initially stomped their experimental-rock boots onto the scene with the four-track Mystery EP (2009), which led to a signing with independent imprint Secretly Canadian and a full-length release that garnered heavy praise from a number of major tastemaker publications.
For Africa In Your Earbuds #20 guitarist Mpumi Mcata crafts a mix as eclectic and uncompromising as BLK JKS' sound — with tunes ranging from a deep-bass remix of Marvin Gaye to cuts from Sinkane, DJ Mujava and Talking Heads. Mpumi explains it best, via e-mail:
This damn mix is a sketch of a few things that have been on rotation in and around the camp as the BLK JKS pre-produce LP2. It's a kind of mix between the music one vibes to socially and the intensely personal, i.e the stuff that contributes to a human being who they are — new and old, stuff well worth visiting and revisiting, sometimes sharing isn't overbearing.All of these spirits progressive, adaptable, re-purposed and interchangeable, unpredictable, distinctly african souls, classic but not necessarily classical as i now so often like to say_ the kind of stuff you might hear on Invisible Cities Pirate Radio — look, you'll dig it if your the kind to smash a curve ball right out the park.
Thanks to OKAYAFR!CA for reaching out, keep up the great work and thanks to the team at Nobodies Business for letting me use their office to put this together and the inspiration.
Hear and download AIYE #20: BLK JKS below! As always, we tip our hat to Underdog for the cover art. For an in-depth look at BLK JKS read OKP senior editor Eddie STATS' feature story on The Fader.
TRACKLIST
1. Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On (Nit Grit Remix)
2. Saitana - Jenakuru
3. Tlokwe Sehomi - Masepalati
4. Sinkane - Jeeper Creeper
5. vampire9000 - Colours
6. Talking Heads - This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
7. Brenda Fassie - Weekend Special (Richard the Third's Italo Dub remix)
8. DJ Mujava - Mugwanti (Shooting Horses Remix)
9. Motèl Mari - Hold On Me
10. BLK JKS - Tselane (Tselan3 Dub Remix)
11. Christian Tiger School - Slip Into Something Uncomfortable
12. Mankunku - Before the Rain And After
Previously on Africa In Your Earbuds: ALEC LOMAMI, DJ MOMA, AWESOME TAPES FROM AFRICA, PETITE NOIR, OLUGBENGA, RICH MEDINA, VOICES OF BLACK, LAMIN FOFANA, CHICO MANN, DJ UNDERDOG, DJ OBAH, SABINE, BROTHA ONACI, DJ AQBT, JUST A BAND, STIMULUS, QOOL DJ MARV, SINKANE, CHIEF BOIMA.
