Ndagga ND-04 ( 12″ / Download )

A1: with Mbene Diatta Seck, Ale & Khadim Mboup: Bamba
A2: Walo
B1: Bamba Version
B2: Leumbeul

The centre-piece of a Jeri-Jeri live performance, Bamba is its tribute to the Senegalese anti-colonialist and spiritual leader. The groove is rock-steady, slow-burning, hard funk, a kind of fatback Mbalax, in no mood to be messed with. The pulse is easier to follow than usual, like writing on the wall. Backed by the full band, Mbene’s singing is devoutly heartfelt, with affirmative responses from the Mboup brothers. Near-eight-minutes; twinned here with its full instrumental version. Plus two sketches, with talking-drums to the fore, no sabar drums — three players, with Yatma’s solo overdubs. On the first, Assane’s electric guitar affects a game of catch-up; on Leumbeul the talking-drums play three beats to the bar (so to speak), the full drum-kit plays four, and different keyboard overdubs switch allegiance back and forth.

12″: Hard Wax • Honest Jon’s
Download: Hard Wax • iTunes • Juno