BLK JKS - “Harare”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 9; Popularity Index: 5

Pairs Well With…Petite Noir, Algiers, Tinariwen

Fusion Afropop quartet BLK JKS return in 2020 with their sophomore record Abantu: Before Humans, due at the end of February, their first after a decade-plus gap since their lauded debut After Robots. Truly embracing the fusion elements of their music, BLK JKS share post rock, bouncy African rhythms, indie pop, and post punk impressions in their richly diverse music, somehow bringing all of these elements together in an interesting and moving stew. “Harare”, the lead single from their new record, has BLK JKS embracing some of the softer angles of their music, an acoustic-led tracks emboldened by some bassy soundscapes, natural percussion, and a hypnotic singing tone. Emitting sounds of hip hop as well, “Harare” shows a more mature band that has pulled back the chaos in their music to reveal a plaintive, trip hop like core. Again, that’s just one side of the explorative South African unit, a band that’s already reached apexes of Afro-punk songwriting and performance, movements that you can hear influencing a slew of new Afropop artists joining BLK JKS at SXSW this year. (Kevin McStravick)