Heavy Combination [Vinyl]

Joseph Kamaru - Heavy Combination [Vinyl]

A crucial introduction to the ‘King of Kikuyu Benga’!

17 tracks that run the gamut from vibrant dancefloor chants with high life-esque guitars, to afro funk, drum machine and keyboard driven disco grooves, and folk style laments. The music is raw, immediate, danceable, and packed full of memorable hooks. The incisive lyrics range from protest songs to relationship advice. Joseph Kamaru was an incredibly popular figure in his native Kenya, connecting with everyone from high-powered politicians to the rural and urban working class, and his music deserves a much wider international audience. 

Compiled by his grandson, the sound artist KMRU, in partnership with Disciples, the tracks have been carefully remastered from original tape transfers by Dubplates & Mastering in Berlin. Sleeve designed by Karolina Kołodziej using original archive material from the Kamaru family vaults. Extensive liner notes include essays by Kenyan academic Maina wa Mũtonya, music journalist Megan Iacobini de Fazio, and KMRU himself.
A1. Kenya Kũrũngara  A2. Ke Wapendane  A3. Kwandĩkwo Ti Gũciarwo  A4. Gari La Trela  A5. Wa Mwene Nĩ Ũmwe  B1. Njohi Ndirĩ Mwarimu  B2. Karolina  B3. Ngunia Ngũrũ  B4. Kĩmĩĩrĩ  C1. Ĩkĩhanda Mũnyũgĩ  C2. Chunga Rũrĩmĩ  C3. Rĩrĩa Mũgũtwenja  C4. J.M. Kariuki  C5. Ndarĩ Ya Mwarimu Pt. 2  D1. Mũhiki Wa Mikosi  D2. Andũ A Madaraka  D3. Nĩ Kĩrume