Soothsayers - Tangled Roots (2009)

Tangled Roots, Soothsayers’ second album (2008) is a melting pot of contemporary grooves set in London’s unique sound world and featuring a diverse range of musicians and guest vocalists, including Adesose Wallace, long-time Roots Manuva collaborator Rikki Rankin, chimurenga soul singer Netsayi Chigwendere , Faithless’ frontman Maxi Jazz and France-based Nigerian superstar Keziah Jones.

Combined with superb musicianship from the wider Soothsayers collective including Momo Hafsi on bass, Mosi Conde on Kora and vocals, Patrick Illingworth on drums, Ghanaian muti-instrumentalist and producer Kwame Yeboah on keys and melodica, as well as bandleaders Idris Rahman on sax and Robin Hopcraft on trumpet, the album is a heavy groove-based affair with some timeless songwriting. Elements of afrobeat, reggae, dub, jazz and funk are combined into a seductive and cohesive mix.