Laurie Tompkins - Sharp Love Slow Faint (2022)

GEMVALLEYMUSIQ’S FIRST ALBUM IS THE SECOND CHAPTER OF ROUGH AMAPIANO

Hypnotic vocals, eerie keyboards, a sense of community and freedom, and the crucial, FL Studio rhythm section coming straight from the future: this is what Abu Wronq Wronq is all about.

Two months after their single “Nkao Yetsa” on PSSNGR, and a few weeks after Toxicated Keys’ first long-player in late April, GemValleyMusiQ now release their debut album. This is a second essential chapter of the Rough Amapiano / Rough MusiQ sound.

Like their friends Toxicated Keys, the three members of GemValleyMusiq (21-yo Comfort Mphahlele aka Rushky D' MusiQ , 22-yo Phuti Makhafola aka Phuddy Jay and 17-yo Ofentse Mauwane aka Drumonade) all hail from Mamelodi East and have spent the last three or four years working on their sound. Their style of Rough Amapiano might sound a little warmer and smoother than what Toxicated Keys’, but it’s still extremely percussive and bass-centered, and much more experimental than most current Amapiano.

This is dance music but it’s also dancing music : the digital percussion and low frequencies seem to actually move within the tracks. It’s no surprise if most of the visuals related to their productions show people showcasing spectacular steps : it’s almost like they mimic the music they hear.

Local vocalists such DJ Fonzi or SixPastTwelve are ubiquitous on the album, rapping or singing, harmonizing with synth pads or basslines, or chanting obsessive hooks, adlibs and toplines.

The general vibe is unmistakably new and idiosyncratic, yet you hear bits of South-African jazzy and soulful house, but also echoes of 90s house heroes like Murk or Danny Tenaglia, soft trance, sometimes even slowed down minimal techno. This is very accessible, people-focused music, but it doesn’t care about sounding like popular stuff.

Needless to say is is an all-killer, no-filler, with every track a potential massive smash. So get ready for this, because you won’t want to hear anything else this summer.

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