BLK JKS

Upon listening to After Robots, the debut LP from Johannesburg, South Africa's BLK JKS, it's as easy to notice as it is to forget that the quartet are in fact a born and bred African group. While their EP, Mystery, released earlier this year, was indebted to the U.S.-via-Africa rhythms of Peter Gabriel, the Pop Group or TV on the Radio, After Robots welcome the sounds of Baaba Maal and Suede into their vernacular, as vocalist Lindani Buthelezi seductively pulls his phrasing underneath pulsating rhythms, skilfully demonstrated on tracks like "Lakeside" and "Cursor." An incredible display of dexterous songwriting, pacing and sense of direction, BLK JKS have created one of the most engaging and rewarding LPs of the year. It's only fitting that BLK JKS, who progressively cover so much space while occupying none, could be looking so far into the future as to be concerned with such things as life after robots.