I mentioned not too long ago the increasing number of exciting and excellent happenings in and around Los Angeles' rumbling independent music scene, the diversity, the quality, the fun atmosphere brought to the stage by many if not all of these artists, among other plauditory characteristics. Fool's Gold was one I had mentioned. They're a big, tropically toe-tapping collective who draw some major influence from multiple different forms of African music (soukous, East African, Touareg desert blues, etcetera), blending their shared love for those more warmer sounds (think lots of syncopated rhythms; shimmering, prickly guitar work) with 80s dance-influenced pop, all that with the Israel-born Luke Top on vocals singing melismatically more often in Hebrew than in English. This isn't mildly-Afropop-influenced indie music, which there is, I stress, nothing wrong with on its own merits and is quite good; but this is something all on its own, American pop music filtered through global pop music and stewed around a little more, handed back and forth in rhythmic and sonic exchange, the after effect of which gives us Fool's Gold's savory, compelling sound, fit for both headphones and large parties alike. This is inspirational singalong dance music in every sense of the word, and it's done wisely and intricately. So it was only a matter of time before Vincent Moon et al hooked up with these guys. Moon (whom I am perfectly aware I unabashedly admire) caught up with them for his Soirée de Poches series in Paris during a show they had done with Kouyaté & Neerman. Twenty-four lush minutes here. Their debut came out in '09 and has been spinning for me since then on a fairly recurring basis. Pop this video on, pick up a book, and enjoy. Or if so incline, dance. (And buy their record.) Los Angeles should be championing, celebrating, and talking about Fool's Gold constantly, wildly invigorating music that should be keeping people sweaty and dancing well into sunrise.
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