The Very Best

One album I missed enumerating on my 2008 list, and should probably be sentenced to torture by Dave Matthews* for forgetting to mention is Esau Mwamwaya (vocals) and Radioclit's (beats) collaboration mixtape, The Very Best. Inspired by his Malawian roots, and maybe in smaller doses, his immigration to Britain in '99, Esau has gone from bakery worker, to construction hand, to second-hand furniture store owner, sustaining his musical passion inspired in adolescence throughout. FADER did an amazing profile piece on "The African Phil Collins" that should be considered required reading.

Esau Mwamwaya - Cape Kod Kwassa Kwassa [mp3]
Esau Mwamwaya - Wena [mp3]

You might hear some familiar sounds on The Very Best. For instance, Mwamwaya's reworking of Vampire Weekend's smash "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa," M.I.A.'s "Boyz, and " Michael Jackson's "Will You Be There." His catchfest track "Tengazako" - translated in English to mean "Take What's Yours" - is nothing but beautiful vocals over M.I.A.'s Clash-sampling "Paper Planes." Still not convinced this is a must have? Check out some live videos of Esau performing for last.fm below / kicking it with Radioclit and other cool cats and try, just try not to get addicted.

Tengazako Live


Messing Around / Beat Sampling / Hanging with Radioclit and Ezra (Vamp Weekend)


Secousse Live

He can't stop smiling. I can't stop smiling. The second vid of Esau messing around with beats, world instruments, different house guests, all from some obscure apartment inspires me. That's exactly how I want my life to be: A 7-day a week informal recording studio where friends stop by my unglamorous house and we just cut crazy tracks. 

Check out The Very Best MySpace for a Completely FREE Album Download. Do it.

Peace, Love and Bringin' World MusicBack,
LtK

* In case of offense: Dave Matthews is a perfectly nice /amazing human being. He lives in Seattle which definitely = smart. He just happens to make music I dislike (with a passion). Feel free to disagree with me on this one; most of America does. iTunes may have his total song count at 250, but as far as GDM is concerned, he's made the same song 250 times.