Slovo- Todo Cambia

September 21, 2007

Slovo is the creation of writer, producer and Faithless guitarist Dave Randall. The band’s first album ‘Nommo’ won critical acclaim for its haunting acoustic melodies, trip-hop soundscapes, international voices and political narratives. Now, Slovo present their second album ‘Todo Cambia’ with unique contributions from UK hiphop MC Bobby Whiskers, singer Andrea Britton, writer Arundhati Roy, Bolivian activist Oscar Olivera, Palestinian MC Boikutt and US political prisoner George Jackson among others.

With a sound rooted in Slovo’s native London, this album continues to explore the questions presented by the wider world with an uncompromising but personal, honest and contemplative stance. The album’s title comes from a phrase Dave first heard used as a declaration of hope amongst the poor of Caracas. The idea that ‘everything changes’ has fired the imagination of people across Latin America who have started to challenge age-old systems of privilege in the workplace, wider community and at the ballot box.

Album opener ‘Calm & Silent’ introduces listeners to Bobby Whiskers, an east London hiphop / grime MC, who first met Dave at a Stop The War gig. Discovering they shared a worldview, he and Dave went on to work on a number of tracks. ‘Many People’ makes implicit reference to Emile Zapata’s assertion that “it is better to die on your feet, than live on your knees”. Bobby paints a compassionate lyrical portrait of those who are forced to live on their knees but asserts that ‘A Change Is Coming’. On ‘Soledad Brother’ he pays tribute to George Jackson, the 1970’s US political prisoner and author of the ‘Soledad Brother’ prison letters (featuring an intro with George’s own voice).

Elsewhere on the album first single ‘The One’ is a tender track, where Dave sings of the universal desire to find love; Booker Prize winner, turned political activist Arundhati Roy adds her views on nationalism to the opening of ‘Flags’ and Boikutt of Palestinian hiphop crew Ramallah Underground joins forces with Bobby Whiskers on ‘Nakba’, to share tales of his life under occupation and curfew. Slovo’s female voice – Andrea Britton - joins Dave on the album’s second love song ‘Spun Out’, with further guest spots coming from singer Rhianna Kenny on ‘Being You’ and Bolivian activist Oscar Olivera on ‘Todo Cambia’.

While Slovo’s music has a message, the catchiness and musical appeal is never lost. ‘Magazine Men’ highlights the bands ability to make a great crossover tune, perfectly fusing the popular, political and the poetic.

‘Todo Cambia’ is released on Brixtown on September 17th. First single ‘The One’ is out September 3rd.

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