FRERES SMITHS NEW ALBUM OUT NOW ON COMET

DEBUT ALBUM OF THE NEW AFRO-BEAT SENSATION!
RELEASE ON APRIL 14TH, 2011

CONTREBAND MENTALITY Album teaser available: http://official.fm/playlist/55012

“Feeling these tunes! les Freres Smith are def bringing something different. Watch out, world!” Ray Lugo / Kokolo

“Beautiful organic afrobeat! I've had the pleasure to perform with these guys in Paris. I love this band!” Kutiman / Thru-You project

©© les Freres Smith - the Smiths brothers - is a Paris based 14 piece collective specialized in afrobeat and ethio flavoured grooves. These music smugglers are touring the French and European scenes for more than 10 years, always with the same blasting energy. Well known for its explosive live interventions, the band is now releasing its first real album after various collaborations with artists such as Tony Allen, Kutiman, Franck Biyong, or Kokolo, among others.

Already accounting as a reference on the Parisian live scene and after a first 7” single on Melting Pot Music, the crew is now releasing its very first album!! 11 crazy afro joints mashed up with as many influences as there are family members in this band, and gathering the cream of the Parisian afrobeat family. Produced by les Freres Smith themselves with support and precious help by mythical afrobeat label Comet Records led by Eric Trosset, featuring the great Tony Allen and the crazy guitarist minister Oghene Kologbo from Fela’s Africa 70, the album was mixed by afrobeat specialist Loik Dury (Kraked Records), and mastered by experienced producer Grant Phabao (Timec).

Released straight up as a collector gatefold double LP, hurry on to put your hands on this already rare groove gem! Artworked by promising street artist Grems, this album gives new directions to afrobeat, emancipating itself from Fela’s music despite paying great respect to the genre. Contrabanda! A family recipe, distilled slowly but surely with strong human values; grooves without any concession, afrobeat without any boundaries, intense and deep soul, music and good vibes as only weapons!
The band foamed the greatest afrobeat events all over Paris, backing genius Israeli artist Kutiman, getting invited on stages by artists such as Tony Allen, the Souljazz Orchestra, Kokolo, or Franck Biyong; organizing the now legendary session Afrobeat Family Affair (featuring Franck Biyong, Toli Nameless, Maya Azucena, Cheick Tidiane Seck, Taylor McFerrin, FireTongue, the Afrorockerz, Masta Conga, and many more...), and all over Europe (UK, Sweden, Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, etc...)

Be a Smith, be a smuggler, enjoy it now! At home or live & direct, come and taste the Smiths’ unique recipe!

Album Tracklisting:

01 Afro! A pure afrobeat joint featuring master drummer Tony Allen.
02 Contreband Mentality. A tribute to Fela’s Colonial Mentality, and a parallel with our vision of music.
03 Le MalNommé. A dark, ethio oriented tune, with heavy guitar and horns lines.
04 SokoSoKool. A percussive featuring Oghene Kologbo (Afrika 70 guitarist), on a traditional west African percussion rhythm.
05 Doucement. Atypical afrobeat tune with a crazy bass line. Folly’s Togolese vocal fits us quite well: “take it easy man!”
06 La Marche des Smith. A bewitching ethio track with a trippy little guitar and sweet horn melody. 07 Gondwana. An afrofunk tunes with heavy breaks and horn section. A pure joint for dancefloors!
08 Zil Zil (Contaminacion). Another etio oriented tune, in which the music tells the story of a devastating virus!
09 Family Affair. All in the title, the Smithian way of life! With creole singing and family vibes.
10 Fire. A K. Frimpong original a la sauce Café-Crème, with amazing roots rock vocals by Barbadian reggae singer Milo.
11 Stockholm Underground. A funky little visit with the Smith brothers in the slums of the Swedish capital...

Meet the Smith Family:

- Habibi Smith: drum vibes - SubbaH Smith: bass massive - Alfredo El Rey Smith: dun dun percussions and bells man - Damien Smith: djembe folle! - Elvis Martinez Smith: guitar psychedelism - Thom & Fabiano Smith: guitar junkies - Manu Mani Smith: keyboard slices - Tommy Smith: alto mellow saxophone - Fabolous Fab Smith: elephant tenor sax - Nico Sake Smith: baryton sax hammer - Roulio Garros Smith: trumpet hustler - Prosper Smith: sexy mother saxer & Cameroun vocal minista - ChristoFolly Smith: Presidential Togo vocal - Huberthe Smith: sista Smith brother on vocal