Hi Robert. Why are you tipping Togo All Stars this week?
‘I had Togo All Stars’ new record Fa (Togo All Stars, ★★★★☆, 12 songs) I was a bit overlooked at first, until I went to their performance at Lowlands. Half an hour before it started, the entire tent was already packed. Rightly so, because the band is really good live. There is so much rhythm in it, so much fat African funk, jazz and brass. All those different rhythms, of twelve band members, eventually come together again, and then there is such a crazy groove in that music. At such a moment you hear how ingenious it is.’
‘That comes across well live, but also on the record itself, which is very well recorded. The grooving feeling, that immersive feeling, that trance and those drums – it sounds very nice. on Sedote Gandji for example, a real dance number, you hear a very clever counter-rhythm. You have to turn that very hard. The dynamics in the sound is very good: you hear a lot of details, dark basses, and copper. The louder you turn it, the better it will sound. But I mainly want to discuss this record because Togo All Stars will be playing in the Netherlands for another two weeks, at the latest festivals and some individual concerts. Go there!’
You also wanted to discuss Tim Knol’s new album.
‘Yes, of course. Tim Knol is often said to sound like Tom Petty, with that eighties radio-rock sound. But now Tim Knol really does sound like Tim Knol. He has become such a trusted Dutch pop voice. on Lightyears Better (★★★★☆, 13 songs) he sings about the transformation he has gone through. He lived a very unhealthy life, with a lot of drink and fatty food, which made him heavy and unhappy. He has radically stopped doing that and started walking a lot.’
‘He has now nicely processed that transformation into an album, in fact every song on the record is good. It grabs you immediately, as reviewer Gijsbert Kamer also writes, you sing along, it is uplifting and inspiring. You go from ballads to american songs to sixties pop. I especially liked the song Whole New Light very strong – there is a beautiful guitar solo in it. A special one, one you haven’t heard a thousand times.’
‘In addition, Lightyears Better also recorded so well. It is really an audiophile record, with several guitar layers mixed together. Also turn this record up loud, because the sound comes from your speakers cheering.’
Other albums worth listening to:
Cheat Codes (★★★★☆, 12 tracks) from producer Danger Mouse and The Roots predecessor Black Thought is one such album that is so good that everyone should hear it. Expect classic hip-hop without too much frills, which still sounds very contemporary, especially thanks to Danger Mouse.
You hear a roaring and swinging organ on reboot (★★★☆☆, 9 issues) by 72-year-old Robbie Foster. His first album in 36 years, and very enjoyable, according to reviewer Gijsbert Kamer.