Nguzunguzu - The Perfect Lullaby Vol.2



Nguzunguzu - The Perfect Lullaby Vol.2
They best comment to start this one off: I´m not the mix kind of guy – Remix or a compilation of original tracks. Not only because most mixes tire me out, but additionally seem to have a lack of depth or originality. 

Missing their first mix and even hearing about the DJ duo Nguzunguzu, my first introduction to their unique sound was through various productions work for the likes of Le1F or last year’s excellent debut by Kelela. As one might tell from those releases, Nguzunguzu stand for some forward thinking production combining dance music, r´n´b with a huge amount of quirkiness. And that is exactly what to expect from Perfect Lullaby.




Clocking in at nearly 50 minutes, the shifted vocals and droning bass at the beginning indicate that you´re in for a ride. The duo mixes and matches everything from house beats, reggeton, old and current r´n´b vocals together with great expertise and sense of atmosphere. The bumping beat never really seems to fade, even when everything transforms into a hazy combinations of vocals and sitar sounding RPG soundtrack. Every section blends perfectly into the next and only a few times does one get the feeling to be hearing a mix rather than original work. I guess, that is mostly due to the part that much of the source material is obscure to me and while the knowledge of this might change the perception, it doesn´t alter what is accomplished here. There is never a sliver of boredom (even though some vocal cuts are way too much in the front and distract from the instrumental progression) and Nguzunguzu shine at being what they ascribe themselves to be: DJ´s. I can image their sets working very well in clubs and people having a blast dancing to those ever-changing creations while you can still enjoy the whole thing on headphones and while travelling alone. So while many DJ sets really work as a lullaby for my attention and never really bring something other than playing songs in a fitting manner, Nguzunguzu know how to recreate and re-enhance their source material. This might be the best example for post-modern techniques in a non-experimental (i.e. open for every listener) fashion. Download this one for free and check out their original work to get what beat production should sound like nowadays!

8/10

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