They want to say thank you – and they do it in the most charming way possible: in the song “We Give Thanks”, Kokoroko fires up the Caribbean rhythm machine, pulls out a few agile guitar licks and flatters their fans with the words: “Don’ t you know I love you?/ Each and everyone of you”. Their fans will certainly return their thanks, because they have been waiting a long time for the debut album of the 8-strong British collective, which is one of the big numbers of the young London jazz scene – although it must be added that high life and afrobeat were at least as big influences for Kokoroko are like jazz, after all some musicians also have a Nigerian background.
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So far, the band around trumpeter and singer Sheila Maurice-Grey has caused open mouths in front of the European stages with their energetic performances. COULD WE BE MORE now fulfills all the hopes one was allowed to have: 15 songs with great African polyrhythms (“Blue Robe I + II”), great soul singing (“Those Good Times”), buttery brass (“Age Of Ascent “), fine gospels in the outro and of course with a lot of funk! By the way, in the West African language Urhobo, Kokoroko means “stay strong” – with this album it’s really easy.
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