A La Fu - Themes

If you ever wondered about the next big thing, that thing the beautiful people are talking about but don’t quite understand, you might just wonder that this is it. The elusive noise technician A La Fu delivers his long awaited solo work ‘Themes’, a limited edition box set that is also the first release from the newly formed VaVa label. In both vinyl (3 x 7”s) and CD format, each package includes the shockingly exquisite artwork created by Rough and like the music, the exclusive prints of the three covers come separate but when you put them together they make up one cohesive picture, in this case ready to frame and hang up onto your wall if desired. ‘Themes’ itself is a triptych collection under the umbrella of Concrete, Digital and Potential and features the supremely talented voices of Sandra Melody and Scribe Sayar. The songs were recorded over the last five years by A La Fu in between various projects with numerous artists and record labels. This particular compilation of songs reflects a multi-faceted, contemplative approach to production and illustrates a musical journey beginning with a close working relationship alongside various vocalists and sounds, reaching a self questioning period of direction and ultimately onto a place of recollection and impending possibilities. Crossing back and forth over the borders between low impact hip hop, instrumental beats, and adventurous leftfield dope rhythms, the six tracks on ‘Themes’ point to a bright and creative future for the VaVa label, and thanks to their deluxe packaging also look set to become collectors items in a hurry, with both limited edition format versions housed in envelope-style card boxes. Inspired early on by the turntable and a fervor for anything slightly off kilter, A La Fu has worked closely with the Ninja Tune and Big Dada labels, recorded and toured extensively with artists including Mike Ladd, Roots Manuva, Coldcut and Saul Williams while carefully developing his craft ready to make the progression towards his solo work. The first of which here depicts that journey and is a great place to start … thus begins the era of passion.

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