About This Release
Muito Kaballa team up with Belgo-Congolese vocalist Reinel Bakole to tackle societal stigmas on empowering afro-soul cut ‘Let Go’.
Cologne-based afro-fusion collective Muito Kaballa follow up the BBC Radio 6 endorsed single ‘Like A River’ with afro-soul fusion single ‘Let Go’, featuring rising Belgo-Congolese artist Reinel Bakole.
Challenging societal ideals around what success means in society, ‘Let Go’ deals with how dreams can be buried under economic and societal pressures. It sees the band add futuristic, synth-led soundscapes into the mix of their established, afro-fusion stylings, with dub influenced horn lines balanced in conversation with Bakole. The synth leads invoke shades of Aussie groove group Mildlife, while the understated afrobeat groove grounds proceedings firmly in Muito Kaballa’s established sound world.
In accordance to the overall topic of separation, the song Let Go is meant as an empowering piece telling the listener to question certain ideas and encouraging them to let go. The lyrics deal with how ones dreams can get buried under economic pressure and also certain ideas of success in our society. The line “Your life may shine like gold, but your dreams remain untold” addresses that pretty directly.
An album focused on transitional moments in life, and separation from ingrained social ideals, ‘Like A River’ is anchored around the three movements of ‘Like A River Parts I-III’ which act as the record’s source, middle and end point. Set to be accompanied by a film to which these movements are the score, it’s an achievement of songwriting & collective arrangement, incorporating wide-ranging influences that span afrofunk, gnawa, contemporary jazz and rumba. Whereas their previous albums have mostly linked to afrobeat, and addressed topics like social equality, racial politics and climate change, ‘Like A River’ is a concept album that takes a more intimate, personal approach.
“The album deals with transitioning and separations, taking on ideas like: ‘at age 30 you should definitely have children, a house and a car’, or ideas on how to live relationships and love. Separating from these ideas or overcoming them can be challenging. The outcome can be ambivalent as the separation of an idea also leaves you somewhat without orientation. It might still be necessary to go off the ‘“straight” road and follow a different path just like a river.”
Tracks such as ‘Like A River Part II’ dip into swirling psychedelia centred around an explorative 12/8 groove, whilst ‘Carry Me’ takes a subtle shift away from the 70s analogue sounds favoured by the band, combining full-bodied synth soundscapes with euphoric horn arrangements. Not content with just its core members, the group also employ the skills of Belgo-Congolese vocalist Reinel Bakolé for ‘Let Go’ and ‘All This While’, further expanding their pool of influence into the world of future soul.
Led by tenor saxophonist and composer Niklas Mündemann, Muito Kaballa are a collective based in Cologne. Originally started as a one-man loop station street show, the project has grown to be known for its eclectic and mesmerising live show. The band have released three albums; 2019’s ‘Everything Is Broke’, 2021’s ‘Mamari’ and 2022’s ‘Little Child’, building a steady fanbase and drawing critical acclaim from domestic press outlets.