REVIEW: FABRICLIVE 49 – BURAKA SOM SISTEMA

Buraka Som Sistema
Fabriclive 49
Fabric

Buraka Som Sistema perfectly encapsulate the fusion between African music, Latin-house and jacking electro, otherwise known as kuduro. Kuduro originated in Luanda in the 80’s but BSS’s particular take on the sub-genre has a decidedly European electronic edge, in no small part thanks to the city of Lisbon, where the group met.

For fans of Buraka Som Sistema but are less familiar with other producers of kuduro dance music, then this album makes for necessary listening; BSS hold down a tight selection of tunes, strongly sticking to their own musical traditions, although in some ways making this one of the less eclectic Fabric live albums I know.

That said, there is a nice breather in the middle of the playlist where they switch into the Skream tune, Fink, but the dubstep breakdown only lasts a few songs before the aptly named Rock Yo Hips provides the crunked up transition back into the bleepy, clappy, shake shake yah, status quo of the rest of the mix. Nevertheless, the raw calypso and soca sounds that permeate through the sharply programmed beats and basslines are what make Buraka Som Sistema the party starters they are and during a live mix there’s no reason for one to want them to deviate from exactly this.

At a time when the likes of Major Lazer, Mujava and MIA are now kicking it large on the electro scene, let’s not forget that Buraka Som Sistema have played a huge part in bringing a new fusion of global sounds into progressive dance music. Bearing in mind that their first major show in the UK was at Fabric in 2007, this album is testament to how far they have come in barely three years time. Let’s hope they continue to wegue wegue for years to come.

Will Coldwell