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12"
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BBS 1907EP
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Mr Raoul K is teaming up with fellow producer Mapiko Mweya. They shift Mr Raoul K's usually blend of real West African instruments and modern electronic club sounds towards the electronic soundscape. With the vocals of B'Utiza, they take you on a rollercoaster ride into an urban concrete jungle very reminiscent of the '90s. Voluminous baselines, West African drums, irie layers of swirling sounds, long buildups, occasional breakdowns -- delivered with a gritty touch. Mr Raoul K's mix keeps the atmosphere dense while Mapiko goes for a more airy approach.
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12"
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BBM 1711EP
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Raoul K is known for blending the sounds of real West African instruments and modern electronic club sounds. This time, he takes a new approach. The original mix is produced without the use of any electronic instrument. Just pure African sounds, chopped and melted together into one groovy slice of contemporary club music. This is the first release in a series celebrating the tenth year of Baobab Music. Irfan adds a good measure of energy, setting up some analog synths with Raoul's beats. Kaito delivers a very dreamy remix which loses its kick drum, but not its groove.
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12"
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BBM 001RMX-EP
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Two remixes of Mr Raoul K's opus "Break Your Chains and Return to Botswana" from 2014's Still Living in Slavery (BBM 001CD/LTD-LP). Kaito uses parts of Mr Raoul K's tricky beats as a rock-solid base for his soundscapes. His remix is like the soundtrack to an escape from imprisonment through an endless desert, as the slowly-rising sun reveals the way to freedom. Mr Raoul K adds even more percussion to the beat-heavy track. The atmosphere is dense. Hide in the shadows, take only small steps forward until you leave your chains behind and step out into the desert.
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12"
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BBM 001EF-EP
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This 12" is the third and last EP that will make up the vinyl version of Mr. Raoul K's album Still Living in Slavery. Please remember: The last 12" came in a neat sleeve that easily stores all three records in it. The first side contains Kuniyuki Takashi's remix of "Dounougnan Magni," who softens the somewhat sparse and minimalistic style of the original. The flipside contains the last chapter of the epic "Enchained Tribe," a deep, glowing track with a haunting vocal. "Break Your Chains and Return to Botswana" is full of slow-paced African percussion and an accompanying chant that fades in and out of the mix.
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3LP+CD
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BBM 001LTD-LP
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Here is a special one for all the vinyl-heads and collectors out there: three remix 12"s, including all remix work (by Ron Trent, Kuniyuki, Simbad), and the dancefloor-friendly versions plus the CD sealed in a full-color sleeve. Hand-numbered. Limited to 100 pieces. Grab one while stocks last... Still Living in Slavery is Mr Raoul K's third album. It is, however, the first one that will be released on his own label, Baobab Music. He thought for quite some time about how to shift the African instruments and African rhythm structures that he uses in his production process into a more dominant, more exposed position, so he gave them a role of their own, freeing them from being bound to a groove coined by a four-to-the-floor kick-drum. While using dominating drum sounds when producing records aimed for the dancefloor seemed reasonable, they weren't needed for the storytelling concept throughout this album and are left to the remixes. As usual, Mr Raoul K worked together with artists from Africa, and on this record, Hamed Sosso, Sona Diabaté, Batakali A.K. Tenekdash and Adama Conde present their skills. His friend Kuniyuki Takashi demonstrates his talent on the flute and provides some piano, too. This album deals with aspects of inner and outer slavery. It is known that people -- whether knowingly or not -- often get into habits that start to limit their possibilities and narrow their view. Slavery is no longer people put in chains by others, but people put in chains by themselves. But only one group of the enchained will admit to their chain. Mr Raoul K's other concern is to share traditional African grooves and sounds with an audience that hasn't experienced this kind of music before. He presents an authentic surrounding that provides the listener with the chance to fall in love with the unusual rhythmic patterns, without getting trapped in neo-colonial-folkloristic stereotypes. This album stands against cultural hegemonism and commits itself to getting together without prejudice.
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CD
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BBM 001CD
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Still Living in Slavery is Mr Raoul K's third album. It is, however, the first one that will be released on his own label, Baobab Music. He thought for quite some time about how to shift the African instruments and African rhythm structures that he uses in his production process into a more dominant, more exposed position, so he gave them a role of their own, freeing them from being bound to a groove coined by a four-to-the-floor kick-drum. While using dominating drum sounds when producing records aimed for the dancefloor seemed reasonable, they weren't needed for the storytelling concept throughout this album and are left to the remixes. As usual, Mr Raoul K worked together with artists from Africa, and on this record, Hamed Sosso, Sona Diabaté, Batakali A.K. Tenekdash and Adama Conde present their skills. His friend Kuniyuki Takashi demonstrates his talent on the flute and provides some piano, too. This album deals with aspects of inner and outer slavery. It is known that people -- whether knowingly or not -- often get into habits that start to limit their possibilities and narrow their view. Slavery is no longer people put in chains by others, but people put in chains by themselves. But only one group of the enchained will admit to their chain. Mr Raoul K's other concern is to share traditional African grooves and sounds with an audience that hasn't experienced this kind of music before. He presents an authentic surrounding that provides the listener with the chance to fall in love with the unusual rhythmic patterns, without getting trapped in neo-colonial-folkloristic stereotypes. This album stands against cultural hegemonism and commits itself to getting together without prejudice.
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12"
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BBM 001A-EP
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The next part of Mr Raoul K's album Still Living in Slavery, delivered in a picture sleeve that will hold all three records. The first side features all three chapters of "Dounougnan Magni" stretched over almost 18 minutes. Pure Afro funk bliss with beautiful keyboards played by Kuniyuki Takahashi. Vocals by Hamed Sosso. The flipside opens with the Mr Raoul K & Laolu version of "Sene Kela." A summery groover with a prominent balafon melody, a driving bass line and beautiful vocals by Sona Diabate. The record closes with two parts of "Enchained Tribe," featuring the sound of the "Water Kalebasse," a dried pumpkin filled with water.
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12"
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BBM 001B-EP
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This 12" is the first in a triple that will make up the vinyl version of Mr. Raoul K's album Still Living in Slavery -- his first album on his own label. The second 12" will be released in a picture sleeve that will be able to hold all three records. "Intelligent Revolution" is an epic 13-min+ rollercoaster ride without any dominant kick-drum. Traditional African instruments fuel an irresistible groove that keeps pulling you in. Ron Trent flexes his remix muscle on "Sene Kela" and applies his warm deep house sound to this vocal-driven track. Simbad's treatment of "Dounougnan Magni (Chapitre 3)" pushes this already dynamic track even further.
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12"
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BBS 1304EP
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Mr. Raoul K finally got one of his heroes to do a remix on one of his tracks. Joe Claussell takes "Ayoka" (taken from Neo-Evolution 02) to a whole new level. He adds a lot of jazz-tinged sounds (especially percussion) and atmosphere but manages to keep the overall African timbre of the original. This adds quite a bit of turns and twists to the already epic journey of the original. The flipside hosts Mr. Raoul K's own remixes, including his own edit of Joe Claussell's remix.
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12"
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BBM 1209EP
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This release should have an "all natural ingredients" sticker on it. All sounds you hear are from traditional instruments recorded on various occasions in the Ivory Coast. It took Mr Raoul K quite some time to get his hand on all the raw material he needed. He then cut it in bits and pieces and rearranged the sonic puzzle into a slowly-evolving track. Join his journey that starts in the cold of a desert at night.
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12"
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BBM 1208EP
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On "Neo-Evolution," Mr. Raoul K uses the concept of evolution to travel with you through his musical journey. Every section of the track seems to evolve. Simple patterns grow into complex patterns. More instruments join in. Some stay, some are dropped after a few bars. The only sound that accompanies you throughout the track is the choir that chants in an ancient African language. The track closes with some beats for your mixing pleasure.
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12"
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BBS 1103EP
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Mr Raoul K and Baobab present new remixes of "Le Karantkatrieme Peul." Belgian duo Prisme remixed it and sent the result to Mr Raoul K who instantly fell in love with their melodic and laid back approach. The other production crew featured here are the Iklawa Brothers, whose remix is a dark, Afrobeat-driven tune. The last remix is done by Mr Raoul K himself and is an epic track that seems to dance on tiptoes around a giant beast.
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12"
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BBM 1107EP
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Mr. Raoul K crafts a relentless groover that sends everyone on the floor into the higher state of consciousness called trance. He layers track upon track and builds a solid grooving base for the balafon -- a handmade percussion instrument not unlike a marimba that gives Guinean music its characteristic flavor. The vocal loop on top draws you deep into the vortex of nested percussion, African melodies and thick basslines. Already tested by Âme with stunning results. One-sided release.
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12"
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BBM 1006EP
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Three musicians teamed up to produce The Triangle Peul. In addition to the well known Mr Raoul K rollercoaster ride through moods from contemplation to euphoria, producing as part of a team with Wareika adds a new dimension of dialog to his work. The fun, the deep concentration and the energy that everyone felt is palpable. Unsurprisingly, "The Triangle Peul" comes in three different mixes including a drum-laden "Beatstramental" for those who still like to mix.
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12"
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BBM 804EP
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"Dark and demanding high class house music in Raoul K's signature style. Despite the somewhat strange title ('Jenseits' meaning 'afterlive' -- originating from a play of words in the Baobab music office), the record delivers in real life! Rich instrumentation, including traditional African instruments, as well as long build-ups and a dramatic breakdown. And a shimmering atmosphere to get you in the right mood. All you can ask for in a contemporary house music release. Especially enriched with the special Mr. Raoul K twist, just the way you'd expect it."
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12"
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BBM 802EP
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"With his second release on Baobab Music, producer Mr. Raoul K heads into new territories. Like he did on his first release Le Cercle Peul, he combines traditional African instruments and the African approach to rhythm with European production techniques and soundscapes. This time he examines the depths of dub techno. This effort results in an epic musical journey, an almost soundtrack-esque piece of music that accompanies the travelling mind as easily as the dancing body. Mr. Raoul K manages to stay focused throughout this long trip through the land of haunting grooves and irie sounds with ease. Driving, yet calm at the very same moment. And full of surprises, too. The flipside delivers -- besides a condensed edit of 'Himalaya' -- a grooving piece of Afro-funk-goes-house, perfectly fitting in the sunnier time of the year. Fellow Ivorian Doungous delivers the infectious vocals to round out this track."
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