Joi
– Joi Sound System (Real World Records)
CD
/ DL
Out
Now
8.5
/ 10
A new Best Of from the original
Asian fusionists.
Farook
and Haroon Shamsher were undoubtedly born to make music. Their father Soni was a professional
flautist and sold traditional Indian instruments in his Brick Lane shop. The brothers were party to Soni making
cassettes with other artists that he would later sell in the streets. It was almost inevitable that they too would
move into music.
Via
previous incarnations as League Of Joi Bangla Youth Organisation and the
shortened Joi Bangla the duo created exciting dance way ahead of its time
fusing Western electronic dance with Asian vocals and melodies.
Emerging
from the same Asian Underground scene that gave us the likes of Cornershop and
Asian Dub Foundation, they were one of the most in-demand acts of the
time. Pursued by many of the major
labels they eventually settled in the ‘spiritual home’ of Real World and the
diversity of the Peter Gabriel virtual family.
Joi
Sound System effectively consists of their first three albums, One And One Is
One (1999), We Are Three (2000) and Without Zero (2007) the last two being made
without Haroon who sadly died from a heart attack in July 99 following a blood
clot and heart attack.
Their
blend of Bengali music, hip-hop and varying dance grooves ensured that they
were at the forefront of highly innovative DJing at clubs such as the Wag and
the Dog Star clocking up over 1,500 appearances along the way.
From
the opening of A Desert Storm described as one of the most original tracks of
its time, this twenty two track double cd pumps out addictive beat after beat
of completely enthralling mashes. With a
looped sound byte and Eastern melodies it compliments a high powered beat which
was surely one of the influences behind the likes of Fat Boy Slim.
Perhaps
the most integrational track here is the positively uplifting Asian Vibes, a guitar
led powerhouse of a dance beat with voices pushed right to the fore making no
excuses for bringing Asian music to the feet of a wanting Western world. It is quite simply mesmerising and
exhilarating from start to finish.
To
pick a best of Joi is no easy task, but Farook has to be complimented on his
final choice. Including such gems as
Don’t Cha Know That, We Need Hour Vote and World Of Colours (one of three bonus
tracks) along the way endorses the originality and genius of an often
underrated act.
Links
Real World Records
Joi on Twitter
Joi on Facebook
Real World 25 review
Published on Louder Than War 25/06/15 - here
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