BLACK MOTION
Fortune Teller
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The title of Black Motion’s latest album, Fortune Teller, has deep meaning to it. As the dance duo’s emphasis is on the African drum and their African culture, Fortune Teller is the next step in getting closer to the spiritual world.
Their first album was Talking to the Drums in which the traditional healer (a metaphor for Black Motion’s musical journey) receives the calling. Aquarian Drums explored the second phase where the traditional healer faces the underwater sound, like a baptism.
Fortune Teller announces that they have the information. The two say that they have been travelling and collecting drums and sounds and the album is a reflection of that journey.
One of the outstanding tracks is a tribute to Madala Kunene and quite unlike anything the two have produced. They say they did the track because “they want to make people realise we have legends. We want the youth to know their roots. We always look at the archives of South African music for inspiration.” They say that this is not a house album, it’s music first.
“We worked so hard on the album and now it is busy changing our lives. We were initially categorised as bangers, but we didn’t just make this album for the festive season. We have proved that we can make any kind of music.”
Fortune Teller is their best album so far and was Tonight’s Album of the Year for 2014. Unlike many other house producers, Black Motion have gone to great lengths to finely tune each and every track with textures and subtle layers.
With only three albums to their name, they are set to stay on the local music scene for the next few decades. Their depth of musical understanding is refreshing and also much- needed in the industry. Kalawa Jazmee have yet again given South Africa musical genius. – Therese Owen