Hikikomori Blue by Spoek Mathambo

All songs written and produced by Nthato Monde James Mokgata

South African artist/beatmaker Spoek Mathambo’s latest project is his meditation on the healing properties of bass, having used stripped down bass dubs as therapy during the most strenuous parts of 2020. The title, Hikikomori Blue refers to the Hikikomori social phenomenon of modern-day hermits (Japanese: ひきこもり or 引きこもり, lit. "pulling inward,
being confined").

Spoek Mathambo is a South African artist, musician, songwriter & filmmaker. With four critically acclaimed solo albums in his catalogue, not to mention his collaborative band projects Fantasma and Batuk, and a documentary on SA electronic music (Future Sound of Mzansi), Spoek Mathambo is a prolific creative, showcasing and stretching the limits of
electronic music and hip hop.

With Hikikomori Blue, Mathambo boldly strips away the 4/4 beats he’s known for and focuses on the polyrhythmic funk of gnawa gimbri and the belly rattling swing of dub bass. With less focus on the bassdrum, Mathambo keeps time with nimble percussion. The songs are a unique
form of the blues, where Spoek Mathambo takes a wry look at matters of the heart, with irreverent rap verses about love gained and love lost.

Tracklisting:
1. Looking For Love Outside Yourself
2. Dinner by Candlelight
3. Mentira the Manga Manga (Casuists and Quacks)
4. Hate To See You Walk Away
5. (Sometimes) I Sing The Blues
6. No More Walking Alone
7. Pressure Burst The Piping
8. (Sometimes) I Sing The Blues (Instrumental)
9. Dinner By Candlelight (Instrumental)
10. Hate To See You Walk Away (Instrumental)
11. Mentira the Manga Manga (Instrumental)

South African producer on the outer realms of Hip-Hop and electronic music