Sesa EP Team Distant / Jalal Ramdani / Mr Silk / Mel D

After meeting via London-based Afro House parties, Jalal Ramdanilinks with Mr Silk, Team Distant, and Mel D for a stunning new package that includes Simo Moumen and Adjuma remixes. Unrivalled Botswana masters of percussion, Team Distant join forces with breakthrough Moroccan mastermind Jalal Ramdani and UK Afro Houseactivist Mr Silk plus vocalist Mel D for ‘Sesa’. The song is about a young African boy who refuses to take the ways of the god, based on a story of theLundapeople of DRC. Team Distant have released on Madorasindahouse and Celsius, while Jalal Ramdani is currently at the forefront of the Afro House scene, with his recent world tour in Tulum/Miami/Ibiza alongside the likes of Angelos and Sounds of Rituals, not to mention upcoming breath-taking releases onBlondish’s Abracadabra, Moblack and Madorasindahouse, in collaboration with his friend Mr Silk.

On the stunning original, skeleton-like bones click and shake to a bass drum pulse while a low horn drone lingers like a dark storm cloud. The story of the vocals punches through with wails and chants, bass and synth, all making ahypnotising and haunting sound.

Adjuma is another newcomer to the scene who announces himself in fine style here. His tasteful remix has a sombre tubular bell motif while the vocal evolves over snapping snares and tight bass drums. Stripped back, but with jazz feelings and smartly evolving melodies, it is another profoundly absorbing track.

Simo Moumen has been producing for a while in different genres, and Sef Kombo has already supported their remix. Drums and sequencers play acrosseach other in suspension with crisp percussive stabs. The rhythm empties to reveal a softer, earthier vocal, and the undulating synths rise again to carry you away in a groove.