Kele Kele

Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara

“I like to keep things raw and swinging so it never gets too pristine or too sweet…I like trancey, circular rhythms and voices that are in between pleasure and pain, where it’s bittersweet.” —Justin Adams.

Justin and Juldeh have been playing together for two years. “At certain soundchecks I’d start playing something and Juldeh would rush over and say ‘keep playing that! We’ve got to play that tonight’ Juldeh would record things on his mobile phone , so that’s they way we came up with a lot of material” explains Justin. Over time the two musicians have naturally fused their styles and begun to create a musical language of their own, where it becomes difficult to see if Justin is becoming more African or Juldeh more Western.

The reference points for this release are recordings from the 1950s by the likes of Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters.

More from Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara

Further reading

Long-awaited release of Kayhan Kalhor and Toumani Diabaté collaboration

The album is a spiritual meditation by two culture bearers of centuries-old musical traditions.

Classic Sheila Chandra trilogy set for re-issue

British Asian World Music pioneer Sheila Chandra’s landmark trilogy of albums set for re-issue.

Africa comes to Real World: revisiting albums by six legendary artists

Jane Cornwell explores our new reissue series 'Africa Sessions at Real World'.

Track of the day: ‘Steal’ by Bob Holroyd. Remixed by Luca Bacchetti

Originally released as part of the Mangled Pianos single last summer, ‘Steal’ has been reworked...