«« ⟺ »»

Imran Mwangi: Happy Music

More reviews by
Artist: Imran Mwangi
Title: Happy Music
Format: 12" + Download
Label: Tanzgemeinschaft
Although it’s called “Happy Music”, the spoken-word sample that forms the centrepiece of Imran Mwangi’s gentle house workout is more critical and negative, a monologue about the government’s removal of music programmes from schools that goes on to speculate that lack of real music tuition may be why sampling is now so popular. Of course it’s ironic than in itself it’s become a sample, especially with its repeated hook of “that stuff ain’t going nowhere”.

But the underlying house track, with a straight beat, jazzy keys and soft low simple bass, does the business and ticks all the right boxes for a mid-set, casually vibed four-four number.

It’s backed with “Elementalta”, an instrumental that takes similarly jazzy keys in a marginally more techno direction, and an Amare remix of the title track that foregoes the spoken word sample and takes the melodic parts in a slightly more electro direction, nicely lightweight but effective.

It’s not the happiest music you’ll hear today, if that’s what you need, but it’s steady-footed quality house music in a classic style.

Comments

«« ⟺ »»