Blaq Spirit ElectricMelt 1996-2010, Vol. 3

BLAQ SOUL Vol. 3 is a curated sonic journey celebrating the innovation and cultural depth of African-rooted music through a global lens. This compilation brings together pioneering remix artists and iconic African musicians, bridging past and present to honour and reimagine musical legacies.

UK-based Ashley Beedle, revered for his Genes & Spirits remix of Moses Taiwa Molelekwa, opens and closes the project, bookending it with a profound tribute to South African jazz. French experimentalist Frédéric Galliano contributes Il Est Fou, a daring rework of oud virtuoso Smadj. London’s Bandulu pays homage to Durban maskandi legends SKELETON with a textured remix complemented by Dick Jewell’s striking 1995 photograph on the cover.

Additional highlights include Tony Thorpe’s Syncopation, elevating rhythms from Cuban master Changuito, and Black Mantis’ remix of Jokuma by Cuban bata drummer Mayito. South Africa’s Mabi Thobejane and Dan Mampone reinterpret Busi Mhlongo with deep percussive intensity, while Sumthyn Black and Culoe De Song offer nuanced reimaginings of Mum Busi and Webaba respectively.

Spanning recordings and remixes made between 1996 and 2010, BLAQ SOUL Vol. 3 unites diverse musical voices under a shared reverence for African rhythm, memory, and innovation. It is both a tribute and a bridge for future explorations.