Songs
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- country:United Kingdom
- style(s):Afrobeat, Jazz
- label:Wormfood Records
- type:Band
- instrumentation:jazz combo
- artist posted by:Wormfood
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Spreading the love across the UK with their monumental fusion of soul, jazz, dub, hip hop and afrobeat, 12-piece outfit Nubiyan Twist are fresh from releasing their eponymous debut LP, with huge critical acclaim. Released 30th March on Wormfood Records, the album will likely appeal to fans of Jill Scott, Fela Kuti, The Heliocentrics and Common. A culmination of brilliant musicians, DJs and producers, fuelled by the laidback, soulful delivery of female vocalist Nubiya Brandon, ‘Nubiyan Twist’ fuses groove-driven music from around the world with soundsystem culture and jazz-inspired improvisation. Encouraging artistic and social unity between different cultures and musical styles, notable influences include the likes of Fela Kuti, King Tubby, J Dilla, Herbie Hancock and Nat King Cole.
From the futuristic textures and mesmeric brass of the album opening, recent single, the groove laden ‘Work House’, combines infectiously danceable grooves, punchy arrangements and a giant sound. The dancefloor-driven ‘Straight Lines’ melds heavyweight soundsystem attitude with a carnival-feel, whilst ‘Hyponotized’ blends afrobeat and reggae. ‘Figure Numatic’, is sultry jazz/hip-hop, Brandon blending a melodic tone and presence reminiscent of the jazz greats of the 40s/50s with a rap style firmly rooted in the golden era of hip hop – a blend of laidback delivery and abstract lyricism. The ultra-tight grooves of ‘Shake Down’ is a modern take on traditional afrobeat, paying homage to the likes of Ebo Taylor and Tony Allen, with warm melodies and punchy horn arrangements similar to those of The Hot 8 Brass Band and Youngblood Brass Band. Grown in the fertile Leeds music scene while studying at Leeds College Of Music, Nubiyan Twist are now mostly resident in London, with a hardcore faction based at Henwood Studios, the custom studio they built in Oxfordshire out of hay bales and cement as Nubiyan HQ. Having won acclaim for their mesmerising live performances, over the band’s 3 year lifespan they’ve collaborated with Ruby Wood (Submotion Orchestra), played alongside De La Soul, Bonobo, Quantic, MF Doom, Robert Glasper Experiment, Gentlemen’s Dub Club and DJ Yoda, and can count BBC 6 Music’s Huey Morgan and Craig Charles as fans.