“Perfect… I really love that! Amazing Afrobeat-influenced sound” – Lauren Laverne, BBC 6 Music
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“I’ve been very impressed by what I’ve heard so far” – Craig Charles BBC 6 Music
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“Check it out!” – Huey Morgan, BBC Radio 2 || “Absolutely excellent!” – Alex Lester, BBC Radio 2
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“Sounds Great!” – Felix Buxton, Basement Jaxx || “Beat is hard! Lovely.” – Bobbito
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“Excellent” – Laurent Garnier || “Sounds beautiful” – Snowboy ||“Love it!” – Rob Da Bank
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On the Dizraeli remix: “(One of ) the hottest tracks that have come out since August” – Annie Nightingale, Radio 1
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ALBUM PREVIEWS:
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“A gnat’s whisker from landing the August album of the month… a lovely new find… championing a more open-minded attitude to culture and tradition… topical and tropical” – 5/5 ****
“Brighton-based international groove collective Lakuta sets out its stall with passion and energy here on Brothers & Sisters’ opening track “Bata Boy”, an urgent, turbulent tirade of Fela-style Afro-Rock with proudly riffing horns supporting Siggi Mwasote’s rejection of homophobic attitudes” – 3/5 ***
“Lakuta have not only created an incredibly vibrant and enthusiastic-sounding record, but their lyricism shows a great deal of resilience and sass to hit that anti-establishment spot. The instrumentation itself is the pulsing backdrop for impassioned decries of war and strength, defining the main aim of the collective’s game. Take away Lakuta’s rallying against the powers that be, and you’re left with groove-filled masterpieces” 4/5 ****
“The ten tracker is stuffed with plenty more of those infectious rhythm tracks, though the soul highlight is the funky, brassy workout that is ‘Lose Yourself’. It’s a pulsating tune that allows vocalist Siggi to show her soul credentials.”
“Lakuta offers us an exclusive title bathed in sunlight… This fusion of influences, combined with sharp production of Nick Faber, help create the magical energy of Lakuta. It is with pleasure that we can help you enjoy a Lakuta album exclusive, “Lose Yourself.”A beautiful summer discovery with hints of acid jazz and Brazilian popular music that exudes a powerful energy through the voice of the singer, greatly influenced by soul divas. Warning, it grooves”
“The music is a simmering and well-cooked mix of funk, ska, reggae, highlife, jazz solos, calypso, kora plucking and hungry riffing from the horns. Really hard pulsating dance music. And it’s equally apt for listening.”
“Musically it’s expansive, undoubtedly written and performed by artists of the highest calibre… The album sees their sound trimmed down to one that works beautifully on record, while retaining the fluidity and energy of live performance, which is the cornerstone of their style.”
“We are premiering the video for their debut single ‘Bata Boy’- an upbeat anthem for LGBT equality and individualism… Produced by the acclaimed Nick Faber, ‘Bata Boy’ sets an exciting and afrocentric tone for the upcoming album.”
“Lakuta is a vibrant Afrobeat posse cooking up a particularly British and multiculturalist strain of the classic Nigerian genre. “Bata Boy” is the lead single from the band’s forthcoming album, Brothers & Sisters, which drops on Tru Thoughts this Aug. 12. Combining Cuban chachalokefun rhythms with ostinato guitar patterns, incessant bass grooves and vocals decrying the silent complicity of the masses in the face of sexual prejudice, the track sits nicely within the growing nexus of globally oriented but locally rooted Afrobeat collectives, such as São Paulo’s Bixiga 70, Buenos Aires’ Guanabana Orquesta and New York’s very own Super Yamba Band.”
“’Bata Boy’ is propulsive afro-funk from Brighton ensemble Lakuta. It’s full, it’s upbeat and it’s got a good message to it. You can’t ask for more than that.”
“Superb support (for Seun Kuti & Egypt 80) came from Lakuta… First on were Lakuta, who played a high-energy, super tight set featuring most of the songs from their Tru Thoughts album ‘Brothers And Sisters’. Vocalist Siggi Mwasote and hard-handed percussionist Cicely ‘Congalita’ Taylor fired the crowd up from the get-go with everyone dancing to the infectious ‘Bata Boy’ with its stabbing horns and defiant chant of “we will not stand for this”. They are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with and were the perfect choice to open the show.”
Brighton Source
“(Lakuta are) first and foremost, world-class musicians. Their music has its basis in traditional afrobeat, but is infused with Latin rhythms, as well as western funk and soul. The fluidity and complexity of their songs depends on the mastery of all the many players in the group, and their ability to keep track of devilish rhythm changes, as well as staying on top of myriad breakdowns – which they all did faultlessly. All this on top of the stamina required to finish freeform, solo-filled songs, up to ten minutes long, make Lakuta one of the most musically impressive bands on Brighton’s scene.”
