LV finally deliver up their second album, and first for longtime supporters Hyperdub. 'Sebenza' sees them dive deeper into the South African influences which have long been a part of their sound, replacing the London-centric palette of their Keysound album 'Routes' with heavier strains of Kwaito and a trio of MCs - Okmalumkoolkat, Spoek Mathambo, and Ruffest - for authentic flavour. The title track and recent single opens proceedings on an Afro-futurist lean somewhere between Kode 9's 'Black Sun' and fibrillating Chicago Footwork, a vibe further explored in the dippin' swerve of 'DL', on the dancing drum cadence of 'Safe And Sound' and the darkly minimal reduction of 'International Pantsula' or 'Work'. But the majority of the album works at a more sensual, House-based groove fusing the downtown sounds of Jo'burg and East London with freshest flair, from 'Animal Prints'' bubbling Hip-House swing to the slyding Boogie funk of 'Zulu Comprar', and really emphasising the rugged road flex on the slowest aces such as 'Hustla' and the purple crush of 'Primus Stove'. Crucially, it all works really well as an album, with an elastic flow and pacing primed for headphone mooches in any urban metropolis at the height of summer.A1 Sebenza A2 Animal Prints A3 DL A4 Zulu Compurar B1 Limb B2 Diamonds B3 Hustla B4 Nothing Like Us C1 Thatha Lo C2 Safe N Sound C3 Primus Stove C4 International Pantsula D1 Spitting Cobra D2 Work D3 Uthando Lwakho
