Nozinja – Nozinja Lodge
It’s not too often a musician comes along who’s managed to craft something that’s completely new, but still with an unshakable backbone of tradition. In Nozinja’s Warp Records debut, however, the Sowetan artist shows a deft hand in bringing together contemporary electronic sounds with the warmth of traditional South African music. Nozinja, widely recognised as being responsible for bringing the Shangaan Electro movement to a global audience, has already spent years crafting satisfyingly frenetic tracks that blend Western beats with the sound of his homeland. Combine that with the trademark bone-shaking dance moves that are an essential part of any Shangaan Electro performance, and you’ve got something that’s a genuine spectacle.
Nozinja Lodge is the first fully-formed and full-length attempt to turn what, in the past has perhaps felt more of a novelty, or a one-off, into something more complete. The album continues on Nozinja’s recognisably quick-fire sound, mixing impossibly fast beats and chip tune blips with African chorus music, and the occasionally cheeky side eye to Western dance traditions (check out the sly stabs of ‘90s house in “Baby Do U Feel Me”). Considering the sheer speed and chaotic nature of the album there are surprising moments of warmth, with the soulfulness of opening tracks “Nwa Baloyi” and “Mitshetshoi”, and the more calming “Xihukwani”, with its range of endearing synth chords. The careful spacing of the album helps assuage some of the relentlessness of the more upbeat tracks. Nozinja Lodge also comes at the perfect time of the year; listening to it with the windows firmly shut against Britain’s onslaught of summer showers, the album’s like a very pure and insistent ray of sunshine.
Nozinja’s music is undoubtedly infectious, and for the listeners who are already familiar with Shangaan Electro, the album is bound to be a welcome listen. Even so, it’s also easy to see that there will be those who find his high pitched, sometimes chipmunk-esque energy a little hard to bear with. It’s the kind of music that could all too easily fall victim to context and environment – where it may sound tinny and gimmicky on office speakers, a larger space or club is more likely to bring out its inherent charm and energy.
Perhaps the only disappointment here is that, broadly speaking, the album doesn’t feel like a huge development for Nozinja as an artist. What he does, he does incredibly well, but there are also frustratingly tantalising glimpses of a new development of his style – like in “Vomaseve Hina” – and it’s hard not to wish he’d pushed ever so slightly further in this direction.
Emma Tucker
Tracklisting:
1. Nwa Baloyi
2. Mitshetsho We Zindaba
3. Baby Do U Feel Me 3
4. Xihukwani
5. Tsekeleke
6. Vamaseve Vatswelani
7. Nyamsoro
8. N’wanga I Jesu
9. Vomaseve Hina
10. Wo Va Jaha