Publications
Partners
African culture has made inroads into the mainstream and this wave is being cultivated by artists like Black Motion. They cleverly look to their heritage to improve on long-standing sounds. Phumlani S Langa loses himself to Moya wa Taola.
Moya wa Taola by Black Motion
Available on all music platforms at R99.99
. . . . -
Black Motion weaves a tapestry of sounds that involves an array of eclectic elements. They start with a spoken word intro, which sets the direction of Moya wa Taola, their latest album.
The album offers thick production, earthy drums and Black Motion’s patient approach to steadily building towards a thunderous crescendo. Andinayo, featuring their long-time collaborator, vocalist Nokwazi, is perhaps the only song in which they really do a few expected things in the composition; something about the melody seems routine.
On I Rise they let one of the best vocalists we have, Msaki, run loose with her controlled vocals and a haunting call to the listener to rise.
The production is heavily layered and every time I spin this record new sounds emerge out of nowhere, as if it has a life of its own.
Moya wa Taola is collab-heavy, which is alright as they have chosen quite a few insanely gifted artists to accompany them on this journey of, dare I say, spiritual-sounding House.
It would’ve been nice to have more tracks that were driven completely by the instrumental because these brothers could get away with an entire House album that excludes vocalists. The one they do have is the title track, which I feel could go anywhere. A guitar or synth howls in the beginning, while the almost bacardi House-sounding drums pulsate like they’re being played in a large empty room.
Black Motion have managed to transport the listener to where House and African music reside in perfect harmony. My personal favourite comes right after one of the strongest songs on the album, Andinayo.
Little Blue Girl, featuring Miss P, makes use of the snare like I have never heard before in House. She effortlessly unhinges her breathy falsetto over a beat that teases the ear and makes you wait quite a while before it allows you to lose yourself. Violins and piano keys are slowly brought in and the depth of this record grows beautifully and never once tries too hard.
This is the first full Black Motion album I have bumped and after just three songs it became more than apparent to me that when you are listening to these cats you are bumping upper-tier House music.
They further prove this on Joy Joy, with Idols season nine finalist Brenden Praise. The piano has been in the shadow of their songs until this track, where the keys shine while the drums urge you to get on your feet. The harmonies run rampant. I dare you to listen to this song without feeling excited.
