Jesse Hackett announces fluorescent African pop LP Ennanga Vision

A wild excursion to the lost kingdom of Buganda.

Featuring a 10-foot long group-played xylophone, one-stringed fiddles, a 200-year old harp, 8-bit drum machines and a school of laughing children, Jesse Hackett’s new album as Ennanga Vision is anything but ordinary.

Lynchpin of Owiny Sigoma Band and Gorillaz’ member, Hackett went to Uganda to work with multi-instrumentalist and singer Albert Ssempeke and record the country’s best voices for what he calls a “post-modern African soundtrack”.

Did we mention that the first single from the LP, which you can hear below, features a harp-playing ex-bare knuckle boxer called Otim?

Fusing crushed electronics with traditional rhythms for an infectious hybrid dance music that rivals Honest Jon’s 2010 Shangaan Electro compilation for sheer audacity.

Released via Soundway Records, Ennanga Vision will be available as standard and limited edition coloured vinyl editions, which you can pre-order here ahead of the 2nd June street date.