Spoek Mathambo – Let Them Talk Single Review

South African native Nthato Mogkgata spent time early in his career fronting little known electro-rap bands Sweat.X and Playdoe, before his solo career under the name Spoek Mathambo really started to take off.

Joining the roster of the increasingly urban conscious, indie rock haven Sub Pop (the Seattle based label that hosted Nirvana early in their career and then seemingly hundreds of influential indie bands after) Mathambo released a two song EP, Put Some Red On It last year, and is due to release his sophomore album, and debut full-length on the label, Father Creeper in March this year.

‘Let Them Talk’ is the first taste of their much anticipated album, and it’s an impressive starting point and good choice of single. ‘Talk’ is a heady fusion of South African rhythms, hip-hop, dub-step beats and rock ‘n’ roll that, despite the disparate sounds, somehow gels together quite brilliantly. The song boasts a memorable guitar riff and chorus that should ensure chart success, before descending into pure guitar noise and theatrics not unworthy of Dinosaur Jr’s J Mascis.

There is no doubt Mathambo has a much wider musical palette than the average rapper (he even lists Joy Division as a primary influence), and you can see him appealing to the indie rock kids who follow the Sub Pop roster with songs like this. Like his label-mate Shabazz Palaces, Spoek Mathambo has a very promising career ahead of him.

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