AFRICA EXPRESS – Africa Express Presents… Bahidor – 2LP – Gatefold Vinyl [JUL 18]

2LP – 140g Black Vinyl housed in a Gatefold Sleeve.

Globally acclaimed music phenomenon Africa Express is back with a brand new studio album titled Africa Express presents… Bahidor, recorded in Mexico and bringing together artists and musicians from four continents. The boundary-breaking music collective has, for over two decades, united artists across countries and genres in radically creative collaborations in which anything can, and does, happen.

With the idea of bringing together artists from different cultures, genres, and generations to perform and make music, Africa Express was founded in 2006 with a trip to Mali connecting local stars Toumani Diabat, Bassekou Kouyat and Amadou & Mariam with artists including co-founder Damon Albarn, Martha Wainwright and Fatboy Slim.

Each Africa Express outing is unique, filled with spontaneous moments of magic, collaboration and discovery. In 2024, Africa Express headlined Mexicos Bahidor Festival, a trip which saw an extraordinary group of musicians, singers and DJs from around the world come together to rehearse, perform and write new music on the banks of the ancient springs of Bahidor. The result is Africa Express presents… Bahidor, a completely original, one-off collection of 21 songs showcasing an exceptional line-up of talent from across Mexico, South America, Africa, the U.S. and U.K. including:

Abou Diarra – Baba Sissoko Bonobo – Bootie Brown – Damon Albarn – Django Django – Eme Malafe – Fatoumata Diawara – Hak Baker Imarhan – Joan As Police Woman – Jupiter & Okwess – La Bruja de Texcoco – Los Pream – Luisa Almaguer – M.anifest – Mare Advertencia – Mexican Institute of Sound – Moonchild Sanelly – Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) Onipa – Otim Alpha – Pot – Son Rompe Pera – Tayhana

Africa Express presents… Bahidor is a remarkable collection of songs. A mind-blowing sonic journey originating in Mexico and encompassing a rich list of musical traditions from Latn to Urban; reggaeton to rap; Kuduro to Cumbia; Oaxacan mixe brass to Salsa; as well as folk, hip hop and pop, this is an album like no other.

Tracklist:

LP1 – Side A
1. Soledad (feat. Damon Albarn, Luisa Almaguer, Nick Zinner, Seye Adelekan, Joan as Police Woman & Mexican Institute of Sound)
2. Otim Hop (feat. Otim Alpha, Bootie Brown, K.O.G & Tom Excell)
3. Mi Lado (feat. Alansito Vega, Pot & Mare Advertencia)
4. Seya (feat. Onipa, Fatoumata Diwara, Abou Diarra, Mlissa Hi & Ophlia Hi)
5. Kuduro (feat. Fatoumata Diawara, Moonchild Sanelly & Tom Excell)
6. Chucha (feat. Son Rompe Pera, Joan as Police Woman, Otim Alpha, Abou Diarra, Ophlia Hi, Mlissa Hi & Mexican Institute of Sound)

LP1 – Side B
1. Invocation (feat. Onipa, Otim Alpha, Jupiter Bokondji, Damon Albarn & Joan as Police Woman)
2. Quisiera (feat. Luisa Almaguer, Alansito Vega, Nick Zinner & Joan as Police Woman)
3. Defiant Ones (feat. Son Rompe Pera, M.anifest, Ophlia Hi, Mlissa Hi & Mexican Institute of Sound)
4. Raise a Glass (feat. Django Django, Mare Advertencia & Seye Adelekan)
5. The Sky Above You (feat. Seye Adelekan, Luisa Almaguer, Joan as Police Woman, Nick Zinner, Imarhan & Damon Albarn)

LP2 – Side C
1. Hacernos As (feat. Luisa Almaguer, Damon Albarn, Seye Adelekan, Nick Zinner, Joan as Police Woman & Mexican Institute of Sound)
2. Frenemies (feat. Hak Baker, Bonobo, Damon Albarn, Otim Alpha, Mlissa Hi & Ophlia Hi)
3. Ofrenda de Sangre (feat. Luisa Almaguer, Mare Advertencia & Alansito Vega)
4. Tayhana (feat. Tayhana, Moonchild Sanelly, K.O.G, Mare Advertencia & Mlissa Hi)
5. Dorhan Oullhin (What the Heart Desires) (feat. Imarhan & Damon Albarn)

LP2 – Side D
1. El Nio (feat. Eme Malafe, Los Pream, Mlissa Hi, Ophlia Hi, Joan as Police Woman, Marco Carrin & Alansito Vega)
2. Kelegusta (feat. La Bruja de Texcoco, Otim Alpha & Tayhana)
3. El Diablo y La Bruja (feat. La Bruja de Texcoco & Los Pream)
4. Pnico (Cuelga al DJ) (feat. Mexican Institute of Sound, Damon Albarn, Los Pream, Nick Zinner & Montana Kinunu Ntunu)
5. Adios Amigos (feat. Baba Sissoko, Luisa Almaguer, Joan as Police Woman, Abou Diarra, Mlissa Hi, Ophlia Hi & Yend Balamba)