Congotronics Meet Angolan Rhythms In Konono N°1 & Batida’s New Album

Konono N°1, Kinshasa’s Grammy Award-winning electric likembe group, are joining forces with Angolan/Portuguese producer Pedro Coquenão aka Batida for a new collaborative album.

Konono N°1 Meets Batida looks to marry the the Congotronic rhythms of the Kinshasa-based group with Batida’s electronic blend of Angolan kuduro, semba and afro-house sounds. The project was entirely recorded in Coquenão’s garage studio in Lisbon.

“I remember mixing Konono tunes with beats on my first broadcasts back in 2007," Batida mentions. "On my first album, the track 'Tribalismo' was definitely inspired by K1's sound, and at my concerts, I had my own kalimba going through a Big Muff pedal, linked to an amp, looking for a similar K1 effect.”

“Nlele Kalusimbiko,” the album’s lead single, is an entrancing and heavily-percussive affair featuring Bissau-Guinean poet AF Diaphra on vocals and Papa Juju on guitar.

Hear it and watch an album trailer below.