Roots, passions, and conviviality.
We all like to get to know other cultures, to travel, to taste the unknown. Many times we even neglect our own country to boast about the one outside, when what we should be doing is showing pride for what we are, as they do, in many of the countries we visit.
Today we are in that mood: we want to enjoy life, expand horizons, and, above all, be happy. From Africa to Oceania it takes two minutes – and who comes to show us the best of themselves are the incredible Ausecuma Beats. Come on out and dance to the sound of these unique rhythms.
MUSSO
Let’s be modern, and turn this article into something from the 2020 generation onwards. Au Se Cu Ma Beats. Got it?
🇦🇺 🇸🇳 🇨🇺 🇲🇱 Beats. Yes, it may sound strange, not least because on certain devices it will certainly show AU SN CU ML instead of the flags we wanted, but it’s a way of demonstrating the multiculturalism of the band.
The band initially consisted of members from Australia (AU), Senegal (SE), Cuba (CU) and Mali (MA), which gave rise to the band’s name. Currently, they have added to the original set more nationalities and different ways of seeing the passion for music: Gambia and Guinea.
And this diversity brings to the fore African music with jazz and a few electronics. A timeless glamour that promises irreverence to those who listen.
On our first listen, we remembered an incredible concert by another similar band, Ezra Collective – which immediately left us with the flea behind our ears about the potential of this type of music in all areas of our lives.
To soothe our souls, here’s Yusupha Ngum from the Gambia, lead singer of Ausecuma Beats. He is a star in his country, in the West African “mbalax” style of music. We move on to Boubacar Gaye from Senegal, a born leader in the creative arts with his djembe, an African drum. He is a member of the percussion group Mama Afrika. Rodolfo Hechavarria, known as “Panga”, hails from Cuba and is a magical virtuoso with his congas. From Australia, we have Ed Crocker and Adam Halliwell. The first plays the drums like no one else and has played in such mythical places as Glastonbury, in England. The second strums his electric guitar like no other and, legend has it, is incredible at the art of improvisation. Bassidi Koné, from Mali, is always accompanied by his incredible balafon, an African wooden xylophone-like instrument.
With all this diversity, the band has been integrating more and more styles and rhythms, and that is where “Musso”, the artistic group’s second album, comes in. On it we feature Boubacar Gaye, Mohamed Camara, Rodolfo “Panga” Hechavarria, Bassidi Koné, Will Larsen, James Jablonka, Evan Tweedie, Byron Goodwin, Luke Koszański, Horatio Luna and Amadou Suso. All together they lead us to the small great pleasures hidden on this planet of ours that we call home.
“Musso” means woman. And it is to them that the artists want to dedicate this creation. To the incredible Mothers we have, who gave birth to us. As they say – and rightly so – there is nothing and no one in this world who cares and thinks of us like our dear Mothers. And it is with this immense respect that we give, at this very moment, a strong affectionate kiss to Her, our dearest of all, as we listen to the album.
But the art they create is not only based on music. It starts on the cover, brilliantly created by Natalie Cassar, where we see multiple ways of creating music in one single print: we have a saxophone, a pair of lips, a drum and several, several colours, which characterize each culture that the brand represents.
This record gives us eight songs, all of them with their own stamp and a happy and irreverent way of looking at life.
We are presented with forty minutes of beautiful pleasure, which begin with “Sallier” and “Bala”. Right from the first seconds, we feel welcomed – and those who have friends from all corners of the world know that. We hear different rhythms and beats, where all together they bring the best there is to offer: a very beautiful synergy, which promptly puts us smiling.
And it’s between the third and fourth song that we definitely don’t want to stop. Whether it’s the name of the songs or the positive vibe they convey, “Dream Come to Me” and “One More Time” don’t leave our minds – and we fully believe that this band’s dream is currently being fulfilled. By the way, “One More Time” is an amazing song to dance to. Here’s a tip for Portuguese discos.
In a more melancholic and retrospective tone, we are delighted with “Life is a Mystery”, a song that could be perfectly fitted in a cinema classic.
With a faster rhythm that is impossible to leave us indifferent, we jump into “Mozambique”. The percussion grows inside us, to a point that we already move without controlling our own bodies.
The band says and we trust them. “Tombo” talks about the respect we should give our mentors/teachers. Everything artists have learned has come from somewhere – and now it’s time for Ausecuma Beats to share that experience with us, in a form of joyful tribute. We feel honoured.
We close with “Yarra”, the ultimate exponential of African culture and everything they know how to do. We have all the instruments, voices and passion on one page, which is delivered in the most loving way possible.
More than a band, they are a philosophy with passion. And that’s what “Musso” brought to our ears: beliefs, work and immense creativity, that makes us heartfelt and proud to know this journey. A WtMM recommendation.
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