Tal National – “Farila (Chimurenga Renaissance Remix)” (Stereogum Premiere)

Tal National – “Farila (Chimurenga Renaissance Remix)” (Stereogum Premiere)

Tal National released their first album outside Niger, Kaani, in 2013. Since then, the West African collective has toured throughout both their home country and internationally, establishing themselves as a pillar of polyrhythmic blues and ecstatic funk. It’s impossible to divorce Tal National’s incredibly joyous sound from their Saharan nation — Niger is a former French colony with Songhai, Fulani, Hausa, and Tuareg cultures commingled — but it’s equally impossible to overlook the group’s backbone of rock freneticism. All of these musical strains and influences burst in tendrils from their new album Zoy Zoy, which the group released to much acclaim this spring. Tendai “Baba” Maraire, half of Seattle space-age rap duo Shabazz Palaces who also creates music as Chimurenga Renaissance, has reworked one of Tal National’s tracks “Farila.” Today we’re premiering his remix, which doubles down on the original’s pulsing jubilance and features an additional verse from him toward the end of the song.

Here’s what Maraire had to say of the remix:

The cultural exchange between Chimurenga Renaissance and Tal National is proof of a musical force appreciated by many melomanes. A sound coming from a village to conquer the modern artistic world. The fact of having African and American origins contributed to a polychromic aspect enjoyed by music lovers around the globe.

Listen below.

Zoy Zoy is out now via FatCat. Get the “Farila” remix here.

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