Where You Are

バブルガムからクワイト、南ア産ディープ・ハウス～ゴムに至るまでの南アフリカのエレクトロ・ミュージックの系譜において数年前に誕生し、2020 年現在では様々なポピュラー音楽にその要素が取り入れられるほどのメインストリームに位置づけられるようになった最新型のダンス・ミュージック、アマピアノ。
そんなアマピアノのシーンにおいて彗星のように現れ、本国南アでも徐々に存在感を増している若手DJ/プロデューサーがこのテノ・アフリカだ。デビュー作となった前作『AMAPIANO SELECTIONS』同様に今回もAWESOME TAPES FROM AFRICAからのリリースで、特徴的なシェイカー、ハイハットと暖かみのある低音、心地よいミッドテンポといったアマピアノの特徴は前作同様。くわえて多幸感あふれるシンセが広がる表題曲「WhereYou Are」や、ゲストシンガーを招いた「AK Love」など、これまで以上にアマピアノ・ファンを広げそうなキラーチューンもあり。アマピアノはじめにも推薦できる一枚です!

Teno Afrikas debut album was one of the first amapiano records to receive a physical release, and helped introduce the rapidly growing South African scene to international audiences. While the styles most pop-friendly artists have scored massive hits throughout Africa, Teno Afrika (Lutendo Raduvha) tends to produce a more stripped-down, instrumental variant of the sound, filled with shuffling, shaker-heavy rhythms and smoothly cascading synths. His second album, Where You Are, is along the same lines as his debut, but with an increased presence of vocals. The opening title track is just lovely, with a jazzy lilt to Leylas airy vocals and a surge of wistful emotion expressed by the swelling synth pads and urgent bassline. "Fall in Love" is the sets other vocal showcase, with fluttering Auto-Tune masking KayCees voice as she reminisces about her first time, and the track is taken in other directions by a weird spring-like synth and soft acoustic guitar notes. "AK Love," co-produced by Diego Don, also has boingy synths and well-timed vocal drops. While Raduvhas tracks arent dense, complicated constructions, he manages to evoke some heavy moods with just a few elements. "Bells" is darker and more suspenseful without raising the tempo, and its hard, distorted bassline absolutely slams. "Duma ICU" balances delicate melodies, which could be played on a classical guitar, with bass that seems ready to pounce. Raduvhas music is brisk, soothing, and easy to dance or relax to, but its tense undercurrent gives it some emotional depth, and overall, its intriguing as well as highly addictive. ~ Paul Simpson