For those who remember the original emergence of Africa Drug in 1994, the recurrence of this track may seem unsurprising. It takes the intricate ethno-ambient multi-instrumentalist approach of Bob Holroyd and infuses it with the skills of Four Tet and T Williams to create a contemporary rework ep of classic material. Holroyd, vaunted at the time by the likes of Coldcut and Francois K, was prime among the charge into ambient ethno trance, albeit with the musicianship under his belt, to carve a number of classic 12”s and albums, two of the best (A Different Space & Within Without) being released on the Six Degrees imprint. His approach on this track is a hypnotic combination of African rhythms in a long slow build combined with subtle electronic effects and instrumentation. The complete effect of being drawn into a ‘ritual space’ akin to the idea of initiation rites is the effect conveyed by the mastery of African rhythm structure and the subtle interweaving of sampling.
Four Tet’s remix weighs in at nearly twelve minutes and combines a tinkling piano/ glockenspiel sound to the base rhythm, hangs on phrases and builds the structure in a reverent yet decisively idiosyncratic manner. It holds the intent of the track, and makes intense use of effect laden tone changes to move into a fast paced shuffler with equal patterned intricacy. Four Tet takes the opportunity to create an epic remix, along with various phases of the long treatment expressing an trademark exuberant bright electronic sound. T Williams moves the track solidly to the dance floor with heavily treated crisp delay and strong bass lines along with heightened drum patterns delivering the essential dj tool in Mix two and the slow build relaxed sophisticated tech-house rework with greater reference to the original track.
Whether taken as retooled classic track or Dj tool 12″, Africa Drug is a gem for the painstaking complex rhythms created by Bob Holroyd displaying his deep appreciation of African music. It comes across as a translation rather than a colonisation of cultural forms and is only enhanced by these contmporary takes on the track.
Innerversitysound
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