Oy - Space Diaspora [CD]

This album from Berlin-based duo OY (Ghanaian-Swiss vocalist and musician Joy Frempong and producer and musician Lleluja-Ha) is a unique space opera - a highly danceable avant-garde, based on a core of vocal loops, electronica and drumming. It tells the story of mankind's prosperous future on a planet called Space Diaspora on which humans finally developed the ability to learn from their mistakes. Life on Space Diaspora is a reflection and a distortion of our own struggling world, conveying sentiments of modern alienation and transnational identity. OY's thoughtful and humorous, tongue-in-cheek approach looks back at current times from the vantage point of a chaos-driven but blooming society in our own future. A vision which elicits tears as well as smiles, and praises the huge potential of the in-between. The Space Diaspora fable is a framework which enables OY to make use of their multiple talents and create a playful and imaginative opus, bursting with melodies carried by Joy Frempong's formidable voice. As voices have remained the strongest form of communication throughout history, the album's electronic core is built out of transformed vocal samples. They reappear in synthesized form - as melodies, chords or patterns - backing the band's reflections on transhumanism, diaspora or transculturation. The resulting sound could be described as a futuristic blend of rebellious tribal jazz and electronica, which the band call "Oyxploitation". The broad musical background of the co-writers ranges from underground experiments to composing for contemporary theatre and reflects that, for them, there is just one love: music as an entity. OY face the absurdity of life with humour, they share with generosity and invite listeners to participate in their musical journey.