LES FRERES SMITH / レ・フレレス・スミス / CONTREBAND MENTALITY / レコード

■Afrobeat and Ethio flavoured grooves■
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!

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