Arto Mwambé - Ouverture Antenne
By Joe • Oct 1st, 2008 • Category: Music, Single/EP Reviews
Arto Mwambé - “Ouverture Antenne” EP [Brontosaurus] (buy) (buy)
Who is Arto Mwambé? (Phillip Lauer) is he really from Africa or is he in fact another Producer going under another alias (as some people are speculating he is). His myspace quote reads ”Ya’ll should know by now” is this referring to who he really is or is it referring to what his music is all about & what to expect ? Personally I’m not sure but whatever its referring too and whoever Arto Mwambé is, its a sure fact that his music speaks for itself.
His latest EP - ”Ouverture Antenne” which is available via his own Frankfurt based label - [Brontosaurus] has been a well anticipated release with Mwambé’s loyal fans since if first appeared on his myspace a good while back with everyone & there mother wanting to know a release date & where could they obtain a copy. Well the wait is over & its now available to buy on vinyl & MP3 which I highly recommend.
First up is “Une Seul Nuit” (Mix de danse) which is a dance version of his West African Nation’s (Burkina Faso) national anthem. Yes you are reading correctly do not a -just your sets. Also known as “L’Hymne de la victoire” (which translates as the anthem of victory) & was in fact written by the former president of Burkina Faso Thomas Sankara.
Mix de danse, like his excellent Mudhutma! EP takes in 90’s style house music & blends it with his own unique style by using swirling electrofied bass lines, smooth synths and some African style percussion, blending it all together with some very 90’s sounding vocals and you have a dance version of your Nations national anthem…. well not quite as simple but still. The heated electricity from that bass and the vocal which is singing/chanting “I wanna get away I wanna get away” is very, very catchy and will have you moving and grooving thats if your not already jumping round like a loon with the music on full whack (I’m not)… (honestly).
Next up is a change in direction with “Btwo” which is a heads down deep mover. The bass goes of on one with lots of unusual activity from squelchy synths, cool keys, unusual riffs and some filthy bass, you really get lost in the track as whole (in a good way). It’s more deep house than anything but in a typical Mwambé style. A great EP with a difference.
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love this
Love the tune but having just youtubed the Burkina Faso National Anthem this really doesn’t sound much like it at all…
arto is phillip lauer and cb funk i heard…. 2/3 of brontosaurus
Think you guys have the song names the wrong way round :)
Une Seul Nuit samples B52’s - Love Shack
Good spot mate I knew I’d heard that sample somewhere else before.
The song names are correct from what I can gather, here’s a bit more info in relation to the “National Anthem”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Une_Seule_Nuit
coolio, my copy is a white label so its not really clear what is what.
The housey one with the B52’s sample and the heavy lowend is my favourite…played it at Basics on Saturday and it worked a treat although there was never really any doubt it would :)
Arto and Move D have totally revitalised house for me this year. No trends , no bullshit, just out and out original quality. Not sure if you guys have covered it before but the San Soda 12″ on We Play House is another one that got me really excited…looking forward to hearing more.
Come to think of it as it doesn’t sound ANYTHING like the national anthem (even after being remixed) I think its been a cunning plan by Arto Mwambe (and the whole i’m from Burkina Faso), another one of their mysterious tactics that go side by side with their equally mysterious music ;)
I totally agree Arto & Move D are quality through and through (I’m listening to the Move D RA mix as I type :D). If you haven’t checked out Arto Mwambe’s Mudhutma EP from last year, do its probably my favourite Mwambe EP so far.
I will check that San Soda 12″ thanks for the tip.
Joe, you have to :) (San Soda…)