Tomas Olesen gets his face blown off by a phenomenal talent - Nneka
The best gigs, the ones that stay with you forever, are often the ones you least expect. Like when one of the headliners calls you a few hours before the gig to invite you along...
Richy Pitch is a stalwart of the London hip hop scene and his newest LP, 'Ye Fre Mi Richy Pitch', made during his time in Ghana, is easily one of my top three albums of 2010. So when he phones to see if I'd like to come to the 'O2 Your Country Live' show at the Shepherd's Bush Empire I don't need much in the way of persuasion.
Richy is playing a short set with one of the stand-out talents on his LP – M3NSA. They're on first so I only catch the end of their time. But MOBO-nominated M3NSA is one to watch for sure, and his album 'No.1 Mango Street' comes highly recommended. His mix of styles and language is truly unique and refreshingly honest.
Next up is Samini with a full backing band. Samini also features on Richy Pitch's album but this was all I've heard by him until now. His band is really tight and are all blatantly having a lot of fun on stage. Samini moves easily between styles, but ultimately his sound is 'hiplife': a Ghanaian fusion of elements of hip hop and dancehall reggae with highlife. The crowd love him and he gets ladies up on the stage to shake their stuff and gets the crowd to double punch the air and wave whatever loose clothing they have on them in a joyous finale to his set.
At this point, tired and miles from home, I'd normally make an early exit. Something about the atmosphere keeps me there though. It may be the effect of great tune after great tune from Richy Pitch, at the decks between acts, or it may be the palpable sense of anticipation in the room. Either way I'm very glad I do.
Nneka's disembodied voice floats out whilst her band play her in, and from her first syllable I'm entranced. When she comes out on stage she turns out to be a diminutive figure. But good things definitely come in small packages and her presence on stage far exceeds her petite frame. She switches from a restrained girly voice, via deep rich soul, to an almost MC-like double-time flow. All the while her control is amazing. She seems at once childlike and incredibly wise and knowing, and clearly feels every word she sings to her core.
The stand-out tracks are her version of the Fela Kuti classic 'Vagabonds in Power' for which she gets the crowd to sing a call and response chorus; 'Uncomfortable Truth' is a personal favourite that has been on repeat in my headphones ever since; and the single with the Chase and Status remix, 'Heartbeat', is clearly how a lot of people found their way here, as it gets a roar of approval when it kicks in.
The range of different noise coming out of the one person is astonishing. The songs are so well written, with vocal melodies that all feel like classics on first listen. It's easily one of the most exciting live shows I've seen in years and I leave feeling that I've just been in the presence of an artist of Bob Marley-esque greatness. Expect to see a lot more of this lady in the future.
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