Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate have come together for a second round of kora infused fusion on their album Monistic Theory. Much like their debut, this effort is a gorgeous blend of North American and African sounds that come together in a jazzy blend of funk, folk, and virtuosity. With a variety of influences and musical sounds blending and working together there is nothing that this duo is afraid to try. They rap, they sing in Guinean, they pack a thousand guitar riffs into a song and let the kora weave magic spells; it’s all here and Joe & Sekou seamlessly intertwine cultures and chemistry to a dynamic and organic sound that is uniquely their own.
From songs that sound like they’re straight from Pat Metheny’s studio to more traditional ballads featuring the kora, Joe and Sekou take the listener on a journey of exploration and discovery. It’s a wonderful ride that’s as gorgeous as an African sunset and as intriguing as New York City. These guys can seriously play their hearts out and it feels as though they’ve dumped every ounce of their musical souls into these songs. There’s a lot of love, emotion, creativity and talent throughout these songs. It’s hard to believe after listening to Monistic Theory that this collaboration might not have ever happened. Thankfully, both Joe and Sekou stuck things out and let things flow and if all works out the journey that they’ve carried on with Monistic Theory will continue for years to come.
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