Congotronics International

Congotronics International is a cross-cultural supergroup consisting of members of Congolese ensembles Konono No. 1 and Kasai Allstars, as well as indie and avant-rock acts Deerhoof, Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Juana Molina, and Skeletons. Performing and recording together since 2011, the group released their debut album, Where's the One?, in 2022. Taken from live and studio recordings, the sprawling album veers from boisterous singalongs to experimental vignettes. Kinshasa's Konono No. 1 are well known for creating highly exuberant music using instruments fashioned out of parts salvaged from junkyards, with the electric likembé being a major part of their signature sound. They have existed since the 1960s, but were virtually unknown outside of Africa until 2004, when their debut album, Congotronics, was released internationally by Belgian label Crammed Discs. The band's music and aesthetic became a major inspiration to experimental, alternative, and hip-hop artists throughout the world, and they toured far and wide, later making guest appearances on albums by Björk and Herbie Hancock. Crammed continued releasing albums in the Congotronics series; 2005's Buzz'n'Rumble from the Urb'n'Jungle included songs by additional acts within the scene, such as Kasai Allstars and Kisanzi Congo. The 2010 compilation Tradi-Mods vs Rockers: Alternative Takes on Congotronics featured remixes and interpretations of Congotronics tracks by dozens of indie rock, experimental, and electronic artists, including Animal Collective, Andrew Bird, Shackleton, and Yamatsuka Eye of the Boredoms. After the album was released, a group featuring several of the participating musicians was organized. This included members of both Konono No. 1 and Kasai Allstars as well as the quartet Deerhoof, the duo Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Matt Mehlan of Skeletons, and Juana Molina. The musicians traded ideas across the world through the Internet, and eventually everyone was assembled in Brussels to finalize the songs and rehearse for their tour, which took them to several festivals and venues throughout Europe and Japan. They continued remotely working on material after the tour finished. A decade after the artists first came together, Congotronics International's debut album was finally completed. Where's the One? was issued by Crammed Discs in 2022.
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