Buraka Som Sistema - Black Diamond

Author

Jason Price

Published

Wednesday 17th December

Angolan producers have been crafting their take on house and techno music since the late 80s. Using traditional music as sampling sources, maintaining a fast, incessant rhythm, and featuring local rappers, the native sound was dubbed kuduro (Portugese slang for ‘hard-ass’). Via immigrants back to Portugal, it didn’t take long for the sound to permeate through the neighbourhoods of Lisbon.

Enter Buraka Som Sistema. This crossover collective have taken the kuduro heard around Lisbon and fused it with popular ‘western’ genres, such as hip hop and drum n’ bass. Black Diamond is BSS’s debut album after an EP and many live shows. By including a large list of collaborators, they have ensured a variety of styles and sounds on their album, whilst still maintaining a very strong dance floor focus.

The signature song would have to be ‘Sound of Kuduro’, featuring M.I.A.’s distinctive vocals; it showcases some blitzing kuduro rhythms, rough Angolan rapping and a relentlessly energetic pace. Other highlights include ‘Kalemba’, with its catchy ‘Wegue Wegue’ hook from MC Pongolove.

Black Diamond is packed with high energy, heavy bass, techy synth lines, and spitfire rapping. The album is a great introduction to Buraka Som Sistema and is sure to get the crowd moving in your direction.