Propaganda Session Two

Raï music is reborn – Sofiane Saidi takes the urgent lyricism of the Algerian rebel music and molds it into something new, pairing his vocals with a dramatic and psychedelic groove. He’s accompanied by Mazalda, a six-piece band making human-machine music, with synth squalls, brass instruments and a team of percussionists providing the pulse.

There’s majestic power in the kologo, King Ayisoba’s instrument of choice, a type of two string lute. You’d think its sonic scope would be limited, but Ayisoba makes it sound like a whole band in itself, with propulsive energy, clattering rhythm and mind-bending melody. He finds new life in traditional sounds, fusing tribal rhythms with hiplife – the Ghanaian style of hip hop that blends highlife and rap.