Coming back for a THIRD year, is the sensational and incomparable Penya. This time, we join forces under On the Corner, a Bristol-based independent label.
You might recognise their track Iyesa from our 2018 festival video.
Penya’s percussive wanderings in Cuba, Turkey, Morocco, Tanzania and India have garnered a tribal, alternative dance floor take on Afro-Latin rhythms, which was described on BBC 6 Music DJ Tom Robinson’s ‘Fresh On the Net’ site as a sound that “has been spun by an Afro-Jazz DJ at the end of a three day bender”.
Many of Penyas’ songs touch on ancient Afro-Cuban melodies sung by the band’s multi-instrumentalist / vocalist Lilli Elina, whilst other tracks are wide open electronic groove scapes that draw on percussion don Jim Le Ms experiences as a ceremonial Bata drummer. Viva Msimang’s dubbed-out trombone improvisations, percussion and backing vocal contributions complete the Penya soundscape.
Penyas’ releases have been hailed by Gilles Peterson, Tom Ravenscroft, (BBC 6 music), Bonobo, Photay, Jordan Rakei, Worldwide FM, BBC Radio 3 Late Junction, Boiler Room, Khalab, and NTS.