JKriv - Gator Boots Vol. 20 [White Label]

Soul Clap Records returns with the 20th volume of their long-running Gator Boots edit series, with a crucial selection from label co-leader Razor-N-Tape and producer JKriv, who presents this 4-track vinyl representing the African musical diaspora reimagined for modern dance floors.

It kicks off with Valsadeira, a fast-tempo excursion from the African island nation of Cape Verde, featuring intense percussion, passionate vocals, and delightful synth work. Sung in Portuguese, the track begins with a romantic tone that transforms midway into a dramatic shift, giving way to a hypnotic tropical vamp. The Valsadeira Drum Tool extends the song's rhythmic breaks into a useful independent percussive jam.

Odo Kakra Sika Kakra is a bouncy and cheerful slice of Ghanaian highlife. With crisp 90s-era production and sweet vocal melodies, JKriv lovingly edited this track to maximize hip movements and smiles. It concludes with Batonga, a mid-tempo Afrofunk piece with a mid-80s downtown NYC vibe, led by angular and funky guitars, layered synths, female vocals, and African chants. The drum break features a textured beat that includes big electronic drums, percussions, and an intertwined kalimba line.