Ahmed Gallab has played with groups like Of Montreal, Yeasayer and Caribou, but he struck out on his own in 2012 and signed to DFA Records for a solo album as Sinkane. Now, he's back with another full-length for DFA. Mean Love is due out on September 2.
The album was co-produced by returning collaborator Greg Lofaro. The U.S.-based Gallab reportedly drew influences from his childhood growing up in Africa, as songs touch on Sudanese haqibah music, in addition to East African horns and synths. All this was partly inspired by Gallab's recent gig as the musical director of a star-studded tribute to Nigerian synth master William Onyeabor.
A press release calls the results "soul music" with pop structures, as "rhythm and styles from our world over to help you move, relate and be." For a taste of this, hear the funkily soulful "Hold Tight" at the bottom of this page.
Also below, see the tracklist along with Sinkane's tour schedule. The calendar includes lots of shows in Europe, plus a North American leg with a stop in Montreal on October 1.
Mean Love:
1. How We Be
2. New Name
3. Yacha
4. Young Trouble
5. Moonstruck
6. Mean Love
7. Hold Tight
8. Galley Boys
9. Son
10. Omdurman
Tour dates:
08/02 Queens, NY - The LOT LIC
09/04 Berlin, Germany - First We Take Berlin Festival
09/05 Vienna, Austria - Grelle Forelle
09/06 Heer-Sur-Meuse, Belgium - Deep into the Woods Festival
09/07 Vlieland, Netherlands - Into the Great Wide Open
09/09 Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli
09/10 Paris, France - La Badadoum
09/11 London, UK - Shacklewell Arms
09/12 Lille, France - La Peniche
09/13 Ghent, Belgium - Big Next Festival
09/16 Nantes, France - Scorpitone Festival
09/18 St. Gallen, Switzerland - Palace
09/20 Hamburg, Germany - Reeperbahn Festival
10/01 Montreal, QC - Casa del Popolo *
10/02 South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Showcase Lounge *
10/03 Boston, MA - Cafe 939 *
10/04 Northampton, MA - Iron Horse *
10/05 Brooklyn, NY - Baby's All Right *
10/07 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's *
10/08 Washington, DC - DC9 *
10/09 Charlottesville, NC - The Southern *
10/11 Louisville, KY - Zanzabar *
10/12 Chicago, IL - Schubas Tavern *
10/13 Saint Paul, MN - Turf Club *
10/17 Seattle, WA - Barboza *
10/18 Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios *
10/19 San Francisco, CA - The Independent *
10/21 Los Angeles, CA - Echo *
10/22 San Diego, CA - Casbah *
10/23 Phoenix, AZ - Last Exit Live *
10/24 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress *
10/26 Austin, TX - Empire Control Room *
10/27 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks *
10/28 Birmingham, AL - Bottletree *
10/29 Nashville, TN - Exit In *
10/30 Columbus, OH - Ohio State University (Wexner Center) *
11/1 Pittsburgh, PA - Smiling Moose *
11/02 New York, NY - SOB's
* with Helado Negro
The album was co-produced by returning collaborator Greg Lofaro. The U.S.-based Gallab reportedly drew influences from his childhood growing up in Africa, as songs touch on Sudanese haqibah music, in addition to East African horns and synths. All this was partly inspired by Gallab's recent gig as the musical director of a star-studded tribute to Nigerian synth master William Onyeabor.
A press release calls the results "soul music" with pop structures, as "rhythm and styles from our world over to help you move, relate and be." For a taste of this, hear the funkily soulful "Hold Tight" at the bottom of this page.
Also below, see the tracklist along with Sinkane's tour schedule. The calendar includes lots of shows in Europe, plus a North American leg with a stop in Montreal on October 1.
Mean Love:
1. How We Be
2. New Name
3. Yacha
4. Young Trouble
5. Moonstruck
6. Mean Love
7. Hold Tight
8. Galley Boys
9. Son
10. Omdurman
Tour dates:
08/02 Queens, NY - The LOT LIC
09/04 Berlin, Germany - First We Take Berlin Festival
09/05 Vienna, Austria - Grelle Forelle
09/06 Heer-Sur-Meuse, Belgium - Deep into the Woods Festival
09/07 Vlieland, Netherlands - Into the Great Wide Open
09/09 Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli
09/10 Paris, France - La Badadoum
09/11 London, UK - Shacklewell Arms
09/12 Lille, France - La Peniche
09/13 Ghent, Belgium - Big Next Festival
09/16 Nantes, France - Scorpitone Festival
09/18 St. Gallen, Switzerland - Palace
09/20 Hamburg, Germany - Reeperbahn Festival
10/01 Montreal, QC - Casa del Popolo *
10/02 South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Showcase Lounge *
10/03 Boston, MA - Cafe 939 *
10/04 Northampton, MA - Iron Horse *
10/05 Brooklyn, NY - Baby's All Right *
10/07 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's *
10/08 Washington, DC - DC9 *
10/09 Charlottesville, NC - The Southern *
10/11 Louisville, KY - Zanzabar *
10/12 Chicago, IL - Schubas Tavern *
10/13 Saint Paul, MN - Turf Club *
10/17 Seattle, WA - Barboza *
10/18 Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios *
10/19 San Francisco, CA - The Independent *
10/21 Los Angeles, CA - Echo *
10/22 San Diego, CA - Casbah *
10/23 Phoenix, AZ - Last Exit Live *
10/24 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress *
10/26 Austin, TX - Empire Control Room *
10/27 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks *
10/28 Birmingham, AL - Bottletree *
10/29 Nashville, TN - Exit In *
10/30 Columbus, OH - Ohio State University (Wexner Center) *
11/1 Pittsburgh, PA - Smiling Moose *
11/02 New York, NY - SOB's
* with Helado Negro
