IBIZA, 7 Sep
Safar (FR), AMVN 'Laafou feat. Abdellah Stitou' on Sol Selectas
'Laafou feat. Abdellah Stitou' is Safar (FR) and AMVN's first release on Sol Selectas since 'Summer Sol VIII' in June 2023, a gap of about 13 months. The Afro House record was released 2 August, arriving in the closing weeks of the Ibiza season.
More drum than chord runs through the track, with a lot of incident keeping the rhythm busy throughout. The level stays temperate with a fair amount of give under the peaks, and plenty of light up top keeps the whole mix open. It is an energetic, drum forward piece of production, confident in how much movement it can sustain.
Sabo placed the track second of 11 on his Spicy Sumac Chart on 4 September, a list where four of the 11 records carry the Sol Selectas name. Sol Selectas last covered Manu Dibango, Nhii and HARJI's 'Bessoka' on 8 July, and this one returns after over a year to a label clearly still worth the wait.
The label said
Sol Selectas, Bandcamp about text · sourceSol Selectas welcomes back Safar with his "Majaneen" EP, featuring three Afro Tribal tracks inspired by his Moroccan and Arabic heritage.
The title track “Majaneen” translates to “the crazy people” and embodies the untamed energy of dance floors across the globe during Safar's performances. It also nods to his unique, wild style of storytelling through music.
“Laafou" literally translates to “Pardon” in English, and the song pays homage to a holistic ceremony from the Gnawa culture, a ritualistic practice aimed at seeking divine forgiveness. On the song Safar collaborates with AMVN, and Abdellah Stitou on vocals.
On “Escalera” we hear the more melodic afro side of Safar’s expression, skillfully merging edgy analog sounds with Afro tech drums to forge an electrifying groove.
The artwork by Helia Jamali captures the essence of Majaneen in the lands of the desert travelers, and the harmony of the ancient sounds and electronic beats.