Soul of a nation : Afro-centric visions in the age of black power : underground jazz, street funk & the roots of rap 1968-79
The guardiand. 28. Apr. 2011ByByRobin Denselowd. 28. Apr. 2011"This Nairobi-London sound clash mixes traditional Kenyan Luo styles with contemporary western influences, and really works ... DJ Gilles Peterson (...) was so impressed with "this weird collage with a great groove" that he commissioned a full album for his Brownswood record label. The result includes nyatiti solos alongside percussion and bass work-outs, but the best sections are those when both groups come together to create a quirky, slinky dance style. This is just the sort of project Africa Express set out to promote, so it's no surprise to find Damon Albarn adding Farfisa organ or omnichord (...) on a couple of the tracks".Read review
BBC music2011ByByDavid Katz2011"The truest highlights come when the Kenyans are allowed less-encumbered spotlights, on numbers such as Owegi Owandho and Rapar Nyanz. But everything on this album has enough verve to keep you tuned in from start to finish, making for a refreshingly different listen whose very unevenness somehow adds to the appeal".Read review