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Batida

From Angola, Portugal

The pumping sound of kuduro knows its history

Over the years, the record collections of the Western world's African music fans have rather under-represented the sounds of the continent's former Portuguese colonies. They've been somewhat dwarved by the volume of releases from Africa's Francophone musical hotspots. Of the former, Angola has had more of a look-in of late with the rise of its exhilarating electronic music known as kuduro. But while most kuduro records resolutely face forwards, the music of Batida checks its rear-view mirror, saluting Angolan musical pioneers from yesteryear by sampling the sound of the '70s. The brainchild of DJ Mpula (aka Pedro Coquenão), it's a faultless formula. No-one - and we mean no-one - can stand remotely still within earshot of the Batida sound, of the relentless rhythms of soca and house, laced with shimmering guitar lines appropriated from vintage vinyl recordings. The live show only enhances the effect, with dancers, percussionists and MCs creating a thrilling sensory overload.

(Biography written by Nige Tassell 2012)

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