FRANCOIS VAN COKE
Francois van Coke
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FRANCOIS van Coke, the eponymous self-titled solo debut album by the man behind the Van Coke Cartel and one of the founders of legendary Fokofpolisiekar, is everything the fans are going to love.
The aural assault of yore has been replaced by a more mature sound, almost retro in parts, providing a perfect vehicle for his always brilliant lyrics; probing, reflecting, mocking and bemoaning life.
Van Coke has always been an elemental force of nature and the 12 tracks on the solo album reflect this, forever hinting at the latent mania lurking beneath, yet always contained as if the enfant terrible of South African rock had been given a dose of Ritalin.
The album is a milestone in his development, underlining his willingness not just to experiment, but also to collaborate with other artists. In that regard, Ek Weet Nie with Arno Carstens is an excellent example, but the standout track has to be Toe Vind Ek Jou, his duet with that other musical legend, Karen Zoid.
Van Coke has added to his formidable body of work, moving forward without straying too far from the trajectory of the hard, driving sound that fixed him firmly in the pantheon of his generation of rockers in the first place. – Kevin Ritchie