Collective Joy with ‘A Semblance: Of return’
Article by Nikki Mendu
Photgraphy by Rishi Prag
“A Semblance is my favourite of Asher Gamedze's various music iterations. Their sound feels so full and expansive since making their album, but it still has those moments of experimentation and improvisation, which make it feel like the musicians are really connected to each other and a larger political project of freedom from oppression.” – Dela Gwala
It’s not often that I leave a gig embracing one of the band members. Visiting the album launch of A Semblance was just that kind of gig, though.
On Friday, 27 February, a friend and I made our way to Color Box in Paarden Eiland. It had been a while since I’d seen live music, and my body filled with anticipation as she excitedly recounted her past experiences seeing A Semblance perform. We eased off the freeway onto a dark street with an industrial, warehouse edge to it. I felt the thrill of visiting a slightly obscure, new venue and wondered what the night held.
After a short walk down a quiet road, we were ushered into a warm yellow light of people, wooden picnic tables, drinks, cigarettes, and homemade food sales. The air held the buzz of a Friday night and people gathering to wait for something. We continued our explorations upstairs, where we were welcomed into a darkened room with swirling blue-red lights, a waiting dancefloor, and a stage. Instruments waited, tuned, and ready to play.
We were soon corralled to the stage for the start, and I found myself snugly seated at the foot of the band. The expectant crowd pressed closer, and I took in the Doc Martens and combat boots; long braids and gold hair accessories; larger-than-life earrings and dramatic slicked back hair; Palestinian keffiyehs and beaten denim jackets; vapes, sunglasses, ear tunnels, grey hair, shaved heads, and faded jerseys.
The new album Of Return is described as “a gathering place: a living room, a rehearsal, a rock club, a study circle, a home”. I couldn’t have felt more at home.
The band came on, set against an impressive fabric screenprinted backdrop. Following a light music intro, the few seated were prompted to our feet by Asher Gamedze’s smooth voice on the mic: “This is a standing gig.”
I spent a lot of the first half listening and observing the musicians. Everyone looked like they were having the best time! I was moved by the passion, whole-hearted sincerity of the musicians, the tight synchronicity of the group, and, of course, the musical mastery!
Ru Slayen, the percussionist, opened a world of possibilities for me with the power of his instrument as he wholeheartedly gave himself to his steady rhythms.
Nobuhle Ashanti on keyboards and synth awed me with her calm, focused energy. She looked in her element, moving from keys to synth and back.
Keegan Steenkamp’s warm, lyrical trumpet tones enraptured us and continued to impress as he introduced another wind instrument for a few tracks.
The deep resonance of Rob Scott’s bass guitar filled the room, seamlessly bringing the drums and melodies together.
All the while, Asher Gamedze’s melodic drumming provided the foundations for our movement, holding the beat and the electricity in the room.
“It was a privilege to watch such talented musicians in such a tight, high-energy and high-calibre performance in Cape Town. A wonderful opportunity to come together for the love of music; music to make you move and think and feel!” – Reflections from an audience member.
The evening was an experimental music experience that you had to move to, and together we swayed, or flat-out danced.
Towards the end of the set, the band introduced us to “State (Of the Internation)”, a new track. I can only describe it as a grounding, political statement of troubling local and international contexts and histories. It echoed the new album’s intention as one that imagines “solidarities that extend beyond geographic and political borders”. In that moment, I felt that extended solidarity. It was a deep sense of connectivity with a room of strangers – a familiar, comforting reassurance of standing together against something greater than us. I’d forgotten how live music can do that.
A major congratulations to the talented group on their new album! If you haven’t already, check out the new album A Semblance: Of Return here. (They also have records available for the hardcore musos!) and support this phenomenal collective of local musicians as they launch their first album.
In case you need an entryway of where to start, my favourite song on this album (currently) is Lowland. Enjoy!
