LIVE: OWINY SIGOMA BAND [04/07/13]

So, I had the pleasure of watching OWINY SIGOMA BAND live the other day at Rough Trade East. And let me just say, it was as original as their band name and as captivating as their recent album cover.

I only heard these guys literally a week ago and was sucked in by the catchy ‘Harpoon Land’, from their latest album ‘Power Punch’; so I was delighted when I found out they were playing a gig in London the next week.

This very unique sounding band is composed of four London-based musicians: brothers - Jesse and Louis Hackett, Sam Lewis and Tom Skinner, and two Kenyan-born musicians: Joseph Nyamungu and Charles Owoko. Combining native Kenyan instruments such as the nyatiti, an 8-stringed lyre (mini harp looking instrument) and Nidwon'ge drums, with more common instruments like guitars, drums and a keyboard, we are able to see how well this band is able to infuse East African styles with more Western indie sounds.

The vibes transmitted from this band were most definitely realised by the crowd as there was no song that didn’t have us grooving. Nyamungu, acting as the driving force of this sextet was not only impressive with his lively singing, but also with his dance moves, especially visible in ‘Owiny Techno’. Owoko also whipped out some killer moves on the b-side track ‘Nyiduonge Drums’. Gotta say, the crowd loved those moves!

Nyamungu and Owoko repping the Kenyan flag with their
very bold outfits. I particularly loved the red bowler hats. 

Not only one of my favourites, but also the crowd’s - ‘Harpoon Land’, seemed to fall easily on eager ears. However, it was not as energetic as I thought it would be live; although the singing was in tune, it seemed quite torpid at the most part. BUT regardless of this, that funky guitar riff made up for this trivial gaffe. Another hit with the crowd was ‘Wires’, from their eponymous album.

Despite encountering a couple of minor difficulties on set, including one of Charles’ drums falling over a few times, these guys glided through and still gave an overall sick performance. The crowd even demanded an encore, which the band quite happily gave in to… Without us having to chant for too long.

I suspect BIG things from this band. If you like groovy guitar riffs and hard hitting drums, I suggest you give these guys a listen. I assure you, you won’t be disappointed… And if you are, you can power punch me in the belly!... If you can find me.

Top 10: Summertime Jams

Here are my Top 10 Summertime Jams that will fo' sure get you grooving.

Whether you're journeying to the beach in a car with your buds, or just chilling in the garden by yourself, these tracks are guaranteed to get you dancing! So grab a cold drink and enjoy the vibes.

10. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Hump De Bump

This is one of the funkiest tracks from these legends. That trumpet!

9. Bombay Bicycle Club – Always Like This

That riff was the depiction of Summer ’09 for me and probably many others, too.

8. Metronomy – Corinne

That melody behind the chorus is immense; definitely one of my favourites from 'The English Riviera'.

7. Yaaks – HRHRHYTHM

An underground track from an underground band; sadly they only lasted a couple of years. I imagine a Summer night when listening to this BIG tune.

6. Foals – Olympic Airways

How could I not include a Foals track? Honestly, Summer is personified in this track. Such a chill tune!

5. Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work

This is probably on everybody's Summer jam list already, and has good reason to be, too!

4. Jamie xx – Far Nearer

This young chap has been tearing up the bass from the ’09. The steel pans really adds that extra Summer feel in this track.

3. Owiny Sigoma Band – Harpoon Land

These guys solidly fuse African beats with groovy guitar riffs. So many vibes!

2. SBTRKT – Pharaohs

This masked hero is doing it right with this massive festival hit.

1. MGMT – Electric Feel

Now this one should have been expected really. Who doesn't love this song?! What a classic. Enjoy!

If you're not ready for the sun after listening to those groovy sounds, then I guess you live in Antarctica. Breezy breezy.

Top 5: Album Covers

Here are my top 5 album covers that stand out for different reasons, varying from the utter contentious to the most effortless.

 

Placing at number 5 is Foals’début album – ‘Antidotes’ (2008). The simplistic animated, sketch-type image of what might be a portrayal of lead singer, Yannis, seems to blend in with the unusual pastel yellow coloured background. We are drawn to the contrasting colours in the subject’s mouth, which could both denote that Foals have a lot to say and that the album is quite fantastic!

Number 4 is home to Marilyn Manson’s third album –‘Mechanical Animals’ (1998). This album cover is one of many controversial covers to hail from Manson. Being no stranger to obscenity, it comes as no surprise when we see an androgynous Manson sneaking on this cover. There’s no wonder why it caused such raucous criticism, it seems like Manson feeds off of it. Just give it a few years and she…I mean HE, will be back with another divisive album, and album cover.

The 3rd spot goes to ‘xx’ (2009), the older of only two children as of yet, by The XX. This trio (once a quartet) stands as fierce competitors for not only the most beautifully simplistic creation of music… but also album covers. With just a white ‘x’ on a black background, this triplet not only showcase their classic ‘black-and-white’ look, but also that minimalism is the way forward!

Baby-faced Panic! at the Disco hail at 2nd position with their eponymous album – ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out’ (2001)… Some track titles are actually much lengthier than this title! The mismatched bodies not only emphasise the burlesque feel, but also such topics as: sanctity of marriage, adultery, alcoholism and prostitution that surround many of the lyrics in this ambitious album.

Taking the top spot at number 1 is Nirvana’s second and most prestigious album - ‘Nevermind’ (1991). With this cover depicting a naked boy toddler – yes, including the male genitalia, there’s no surprise why it caused quite the controversy. Never had there been a bigger scandal upon the release of an album cover and Kobain was no short of a witty comment - ‘if you’re offended by this, you must be a closet pedophile’. Well said.

PETITE NOIR

Having only released four tracks as of yet, Yannick Ilunga, also known as Petite Noir, is able to infuse insistent afro-beats with indie vibes to make an original composition, almost as vibrant as his vintage shirts - unquestionably taking fashion advice from Yannis of Foals.

Starting with his debut single – ‘Till We Ghosts’, released through Bad Life, achieving critical acclaim in The Guardian and BBC Radio 1, Ilunga underlines a feeling of loss and longing through his expressive, baritone voice and haunting ooohs in the background. With hard-hitting drums from the start which conjure into more traditional African beats in the choruses, he ends the track with a softer guitar melody similar to Bloc Party’s ‘Octopus’, but more poignant.

The youthful twenty-two year old launches straight into ‘Disappear’ with a fast-paced melody reminiscent to a much swifter ‘Ache’ by Twigs. Again with a forceful drum beat, we see much darker lyrics take over in this track: ‘All we have in life will disappear’, sounding like he sings from experience. With subtle influences from Ilunga’s previous band, Popskarr, floating around this track, we see where he gets the pop feels from.

Stripping away the heavy drums in the intro of ‘Pressure’, the ex-Popskarr member’s thick voice is highlighted. With the beat building up nearing the end of the intro, he delves into an assertive main body with an anticipated dominating drum beat and a complimenting bass melody. The track hits climax as he asks soulfully ‘Do you love me?’, and leaves us with a lingering feeling of nostalgia though a slow and trippy outro.

Ilunga takes a more mellow approach in his latest release – ‘Kinshasa Waltz’, with a consistent and tranquil guitar melody united by lyrics that once again show a yearning, maybe this time for his roots in Congo.

Blood Orange enthusiast, Ilunga, states that he loves that ‘people don’t know what to call [his music]’. You can undeniably see that Petite Noir definitely isn’t ‘a regular’ [‘Till We Ghosts’] artist with tracks as ‘vibe-uous’ as his. Big things are certain for and from this guy…

BELIEVE IN NOIR WAVE!