Konono No.1 & Omar Souleyman

Double whammy.

From the rural North Eastern region of Syria comes Omar Souleyman, whose texture-heavy mongrel party bangers ignite any party. His group play frantic and intense ‘Dabke’ tracks with killer hooks, topped off with Omar’s iconic presence and thrilling emotional range. Shift your body.

From the Congolese city of Kinshasa come the attention-grabbing and beautifully singular sounding, thumb-thumping Konono No.1 whose overpowering, distortion-fuelled trance music makes anyone that can move a born-again raver. Konono are number one.

Two groups that are as wonky as wildfire, and as hallucinogenic as any re-imagining of the 80’s could ever warp to. Pure street level folk (that purists pass on) and as radically traditional, funky and futuristic as any group dares to be. No frills. This is THE raw funktional music of one’s dreams. Qu are over many moons to welcome them both back in this double header – a Qu Junktion like no other. Both have new albums.

Konono No1’s new album ‘Assume Crash Position’ is the long-anticipated follow up to their hugely influential 2005 debut. The new record sees their trademark thrilling junkyard sonics and relentlessly hypnotic percussive grooves (as created using thumb pianos and drums made from scrap metal and disused car parts) further elevated with electric guitars and bass (played by neighbourhood musicians from a young Konono covers band!), as well as a wider range of vocalists plus guest appearances from guitarist Manuaku Pepe Felly (Zaïko Langa Langa) and members of fellow Congotronics band Kasai Allstars.

Their live shows are world of mouth specials and their fan base stretches way beyond the tie-dye.

Konono No1 on Bjork’s Show:

Omar Souleyman’s new album will come out on the esteemed Sublime Frequencies, based out of the USA but operating where most labels fear to tread. As should be expected the contents of Omar’s new album remain under wraps. He is one of the most distinct and revered voices in modern music – he even recorded some unused trks for Gorillaz. Frantic Arabic keyboard solos provided by the incredible Rizan Sa’id intertwine with reeds, stringed instruments and percussion. Ali Shaker’s virtuoso saz playing is an intense driving force that moves the songs to ever more psychedelic levels. Omar’s debut 2009 European tour left dance floors crazed everywhere, from Cornish community halls to Sonar’s main stage, and generated huge interest across the board, from Syrians needing some Dabke dancing to psych aficionados, from ARTE to CNN. Everywhere the reception was delirious.

Experience the genuine sounds of Syria and the Middle East without the condescending polish and shine of much exported ‘world beat’

Omar Souleyman at Sonar: (rough but you get the picture)