04.03.2013

Ben Zabo: Mark Ernestus Meets Ben Zabo

The debut release "Mark Ernestus Meets Ben Zabo " by Glitterbeat Records is a limited edition 12” with two dubbed-up remixes by electronic music explorer, Mark Ernestus. Release: March 23, 2013. The tracks are pulled from Glitterbeat artist, Ben Zabo’s self-titled and highly touted, 2012 debut album of frenetic, Malian Afro-rock.

By paring down Zabo’s tracks to their rhythmic, hypnotic essentials, Ernestus has created an inspired soundscape. These “dubwise” mixes somehow succeed in feeling both organic and reinvented.

Mark Ernestus’s influence on the last twenty years of electronic music is well established. With partner Moritz von Oswald, Ernestus spearheaded two legendary projects: the minimal techno pulse of Basic Channel and the avantroots-dub of Rhythm and Sound. Since the mid-2000’s Mark has increasingly focused on African music.

Ben Zabo released his first album in May of 2012. Backed by a full-throttle 7-piece band, Zabo’s music pleads for love and justice while barnstorming the dancefloor. The album ended-up on several African music year-end top-ten lists and was widely reviewed and widely hailed: “This fantastic debut by a new name from Mali…has all the intensity of Africa70 or Ok Jazz…a triumph.” - Mojo ****