Congolese collaborative Kokoko! have always been galvanised by their city — in fact, they call themselves “the sound of Kinshasa’s tomorrow”. As peppy and pulsing as their name suggests, their impending new album Butu — Lingala for “the night” — recreates the spirited energy of Kinshasa nightlife, using everything from field recordings of car horns and pedestrian chatter, to detergent bottles and ceramic pots as percussion — as well as more traditional West and South African influences, alternative electronica, and punk. And on stage, they’re even more of a force of creative joy.
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
