Mean Love
Born in Sudan, Ahmed Gallab fled with his family to the U.S., where he was eventually raised in Ohio. His musical soul sent him to Brooklyn, where he brought his percussion work to indie music folks (Caribou, Of Montreal, Yeasayer) while working on his solo project, Sinkane, the entire time. Gallab’s interest in rhythms guarantees that *Mean Love* is meant for dancing. Yet his silky vocals have such heart that the music also channels the emotions of ’60s and ’70s soul music. “How We Be” starts things with a low-key noir sound that’s immediately fleshed out on “New Name,” where the sounds of Philly soul and disco combine with Gallab’s easygoing voice for an interesting tug of war. A Curtis Mayfield vibe breaks out on “Yacha.” Bossa nova floats into the mild funk of “Moonstruck.” The title track offers a sense of ’50 pop-rock with a country-western flavor mixing with Gallab’s angelic falsetto. Anyone thinking C&W is too much a stretch will be assured it works on “Galley Boys,” where pedal steel guitar meets a vague dub rhythm and a soft-rock vocal.
Ahmed Gallab has spent the last six years slowly refining the scope of his music. The one-time contributor to both Yeasayer and Caribou returns here with an album that seamlessly mixes Afropop and off-kilter electronic sounds.
Ahmed Gallab has spent the last six years slowly refining the scope of his music. The one-time contributor to both Yeasayer and Caribou returns here with an album that seamlessly mixes Afropop and off-kilter electronic sounds.
Sudanese born and American raised, Sinkane fuses the traditional music of his childhood with a more modern treatment.
Sudanese born and American raised, Sinkane fuses the traditional music of his childhood with a more modern treatment.
Sinkane's 2012 album Mars made a convincing case for Ahmed Gallab being the inheritor of Curtis Mayfield's crown. On Mean Love, the delicate flasetto, the bright trumpet and flute stabs behind the vocals, the skittering percussion; all are still in evidence, as are the Sudanese and East African rhythmic patterns which give Gallab's songwriting such an original twist
Sinkane's 2012 album Mars made a convincing case for Ahmed Gallab being the inheritor of Curtis Mayfield's crown. On Mean Love, the delicate flasetto, the bright trumpet and flute stabs behind the vocals, the skittering percussion; all are still in evidence, as are the Sudanese and East African rhythmic patterns which give Gallab's songwriting such an original twist
Sinkane is soulful and sinuous on his second album, writes <strong>Kitty Empire</strong>
Sinkane is soulful and sinuous on his second album, writes <strong>Kitty Empire</strong>
Ahmed Gallab and Sinkane's second album hops from genre to genre expertly and effortlessly, and there's barely a misstep, writes <strong>Paul MacInnes</strong>
Ahmed Gallab and Sinkane's second album hops from genre to genre expertly and effortlessly, and there's barely a misstep, writes <strong>Paul MacInnes</strong>