South Africa has long been a hotbed for forward-thinking sounds, from the vibrant Shangaan electro scene to the lo-fi avant soundscapes of current bands like John Wizards.
Fantasma fit seamlessly into this lineage, with a debut album that fuses traditional South African music with hip hop, soul, pop and electronica. Perhaps this should be no surprise given that they boast Spoek Mathambo as a member, one of the country’s most innovative artists (read about his 2014 documentary, Future Sounds of Mzansi, here). He’s joined by DJ Spoko, guitarist Andre Geldenhuys, Bhekisenzo Cele and drummer Michael Buchanan on a mission to inject fresh sounds into pop.
Following last year’s well received Eye of the Sun EP, Free Love looks set to establish Fantasma as one of the country’s most exciting musical prospects. Have a listen using the YouTube player below and let us know your thoughts!