Music from DR Congo: Jupiter soon in Paris

Great interview this afternoon in Paris with Congolese musician Jupiter.

Jupiter and his Okwess International band will be playing in Paris on May 27th in Pop Up du Label, 14 rue Abel, 75012, then in Le Zénith with Blur on June 15th! 

I'll be writing articles soon, in French, but here is a link to listen:


My favourite song on the album "Kinshasa One Two", by DRC Music, including Damon Albarn and a bunch of Congolese musicians:

11 - Ah Congo (Feat. Jupiter Bokondji and Bokatola System) [DRC Music: Kinshasa One Two]

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More here on the BBC's website:

Africa Beats: DR Congo's Jupiter

26 April 2013

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-22267126

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You can also read more here:

Africa Express

New Africa

Jupiter Bokondji: 'The cultural riches of Congo are immense'
The Congolese star on his country's music and the UK Africa Express tour, featuring 80 musicians on one train as it makes a string of stops across the UK

 Jupiter Bokondji in West London. Photograph: Linda Brownlee for the Observer Linda Brownlee/Observer

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/aug/26/jupiter-bokondji-africa-express-congo

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Again, tour dates:

Jupiter and his Okwess International band will be playing in Paris on May 27th in Pop Up du Label, 14 rue Abel, 75012, then in Le Zénith with Blur on June 15th.

Rendez-vous est pris... 

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 Talking about politics in music is not about writing openly political lyrics or expurgating anger on guitars, it often lies in deeper concerns, genuine stories, about the authenticity of a career path.

Jupiter epitomises it perfectly. As he ends in this amazingly beautiful tracks, in the last sentence of the lyrics: "l'histoire nous jugera". History will judge us. 

Please listen here below - this track is features on Jupiter and his Okwess International orchestra's first record, Hotel Univers:

Jupiter & Okwess International - "Congo"

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3D ON JUPITER: Kinshasa meets Bristol

I have already mentioned it here (http://melissa-on-the-road.blogspot.fr/2014/11/new-ear-old-times-remembering-robert.html) but I want to share again about this work between Massive Attack's icon 3D aka Robert Del Naja and Congolese musician Jupiter:

Massive Attack's Robert Del Naja's second release on his Battle Box label is a heavy, electronic collaboration with Congolese musician Jupiter Robert Del Naja & Jupiter Bokonjdi, the pair having met on an Afrika Express adventure in 2012.

Released on October 17, 2013, by The Vinyl Factory as a limited hand-numbered pressing of 300 with exclusive sleeve artwork by Paul Insect.

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The Duo produced the tack named '3D On Jupiter' - or 'Battle Box 002'.

To listen: https://soundcloud.com/thevinylfactory/battle-box-001-main-mix-feat


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Read:

MASSIVE ATTACK’S ROBERT DEL NAJA RELEASES NEW 12″, 3D ON JUPITER

Read here: http://www.factmag.com/2013/10/17/massive-attacks-robert-del-naja-releases-new-12-3d-on-jupiter/

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October 2013
http://www.factmag.com/2013/10/17/massive-attacks-robert-del-naja-releases-new-12-3d-on-jupiter/

Tracklist:
A. 3D on Jupiter – Main Mix
B. 3D on Jupiter – Alternative Mix

Massive Attack figurehead Robert ’3D’ Del Naja has turned his attention to The Congo on a new 12″, strictly limited to 300 copies.

This time last year, Del Naja inaugurated his Battle Box project – a new outlet intended to “fuse music, art and discourse across one-off live events, exhibitions and exclusive vinyl releases.” Its first drop was the Battle Box 001 12″, released in association with The Vinyl Factory, which featured a new 3D/Guy Garvey collaboration plus a Guy Andrews remix on the flip.

Today sees the release of Battle Box 002, titled 3D On Jupiter. The new disc sees Del Naja on an Afrocentric tip, remixing Congolese musician and Okwess International lynchpin Jupiter Bokonjdi. As Del Naja outlines below, the record takes inspiration from his stint with Damon Albarn’s Africa Express project:

 ”In 2007 I went to the Congo with Africa Express. I was lucky to hang out and listen to some pretty amazing musicians, Jupiter among them.

“This track is built with an unknown modular synth from Munich, a Moog and a Vermona drum machine, with help from Euan Dickinson and Tim Goldsworthy. And mixes by Bruno Ellingham. I wanted to mirror the energy and message in the song without complicating it. The b-side is a more relaxed and melodic using a Prophet 5 and a jupiter 8.

It is the second release on the Battle Box label, which is made and distributed through The Vinyl Factory. Paul Insect has designed the covers and label art. Everything is screenprinted and limited in number.”

FACT have the first play of the video for the hammering A-side, which you can watch below. 3D On Jupiter touches down via The Vinyl Factory today; head here to buy.

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MORE:

To listen to my report on Africa Express' concert in Paris in 2009 (in French):

https://soundcloud.com/melissa-chemam/africa-express 


To know more about my report on DRC Music, Damon Albarn's album recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2011:

http://melissa-on-the-road.blogspot.fr/2011/10/all-about-drc-music-charity-album.html

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