Review: Beatkozina feat. El Mago & Axel Camil - Merhba EP (Compost Records)

Afro-futuristica flute gang house (with cover artwork to match) with a release on the always adventurous Compost Records label.

We know of Beatkozinan after the release on Afroterraneo, 'Nusrat Passion' featuring Abirah Shah (see review HERE) but this 'Merhba EP' sounds even better as it's got added to the equally mesmerising vocals is some jazz flute: Flute Gang members have been blessed.

Not only that, this seems more jazzy too with a super cool dub version.that crosses Lonnie Liston Smith, Herbert Laws, Bobbi Humphrey, Ron Trent, Joe Clausell, Osunlade, Louie Vega, King Tubby (and more) in dance with "Moroccan rhythmic patterns, minimalism, transposition, and confrontation producing a tribal, complex, contemporary sound that carries a subliminal message of universality and identity at the same time."

Beatkozina is a London and Marrakech based duo of Mehdi Baami and Gregory Jouandon and 'Merhba' needs to be a vinyl release (I'll keep you posted on that) and the smart money is that it's going on this months' "Best Of" Colour & Pitch Sessions mixtape with Sumsuch.

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - November 2024

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - November 2024

Artist: Beatkozina feat. El Mago & Axel Camil

Title: Merhba EP

Release date: 22nd November, 2024

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number : CPT64-3 / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Beatkozina ft. Abirah Shah - Nusrat Passion (inc. Kiko Navarro Afroterraneo Remix) (Afroterraneo)

Fans of the last release on the Afroterraneo label, Kiko Navarro's 'You Take Over' featuring Nader Behravan that included an Osunlade remix (see review HERE) might think they'd know what they'd be getting with this latest release; but would they?

Well, they won't be surprised that this is an excellent couple of tracks that you'll want to hear again and again but whilst you may want to head for the Kiko remix to start with - hold on and get absorbed with the original version, not only because it's nearly 10 minutes long but it's got the "truly show-stopping performance" vocals of Abirah Shah.

This track is a glorious mix of Afro-Arabic-Indian subcontinent with deep house and as Kiko loves his spiritual Alice Coltrance/Tai Chi you can tell he's up for the remix.  If someone was to update ex-CAN member Holger Czukay's 1979 classic 'Persian Love', this would not be that far away.

Bearkozina formed out of Gregory Jouandon travelling from is London home to Marrakech where he met fellow multi-instrumentalist Marehdi Naami and this is there first release and is a tribute to internationally renowned performer of Qawwali (Sufis spiritual music), Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.  Not only is this a fitting tribute, both versions are totally dancefloor ready so be prepared to be surprised!

And featured on the latest Colour & Pitch Session with Sumsuch

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - March 2023

Artist: Beatkozina ft, Abirah Shah 

Title: Nusrat Passion (inc. Kiko Navarro Afroterraneo Remix) 

Release Date : 31st March, 2023

Catalog Number : AFTNE054 

Label : Afroterraneo

Format: 12" / Digital / Bandcamp

1. Nusrat Passion (9:16)

2. Nusrat Passion (inc. Kiko Navarro Afroterraneo Remix) (7:54)