Buraka Som Sistema take their name from their home in Lisbon – their name translates simply to ‘Buraka Sound System’ – though their ‘kuduro’ sound stems from the former Portuguese colony of Angola. Kuduro emerged from late 80s experiments when musicians in Angola started mixing African percussion samples with simple Calypso beats and Western electronic sounds.

Kuduro apparently translates loosely to “hard ass” or “stiff bottom” in Portuguese – which offers a fair description of the kinds of dancefloor shenanigans the records inevitable induce. Buraka Som Sistema have established themselves as the ambassadors of the Kudro sound to the rest of the world – ably assisted by the support of the absurdly fashionable M.I.A., and her presence on the album’s single and mission statement Sound of Kuduro. The sound is a clattering riot of beats and sirens backing the toasting chants of the excitable MCs.

There seems to be little difference between the Brazilian bailefunk and Angolan or Portuguese kuduro, both sharing a lo-tech, indiscriminate magpie-like approach to influences and an aggressively energetic need to force you towards the dancefloor. If anything kuduro has a slightly more digitised vibe, with a stronger electronic feel than the hip hop leaning baile funk sound. M.I.A. attributes the difference to the “kids not having anything to make music on other than cellphones, using samples they’d get from their PCs and mobiles’ sound buttons, it’s a rave-y, beat oriented sound”. Though like the baile sound so widely popularized by her along with Diplo and Bonde do Role, kudro is a heady mix of ass-shaking grooves with house beats and the spitfire staccato of Portuguese rapping.

Kalemba (Wegue-Wegue) drops to a minimal beat and shuffle of percussion directed by Pongolove’s commanding lyrics, which need no translation to direct you all kinds of ass-shaking. Aqi para Voces veers toward a housier vibe and IC19 drops acid on the breaks, but with General the crew eases in on a gentle guitar lick and drift along taking a brief pause from the carnival of dance madness. London’s Kano lends a verse to Skank and Move further opening up the cross over appeal of the crew, before the record closes out in sinister style with the brooding New Africas Parts 1 and 2.

As would be expected from the Fabric record label, the album delivers on all cylinders and is sure to provide the soundtrack to much of the madness at this summer’s house parties – sitting nicely next to the Spank Rock and Girl Talk albums of recent summers.

For a taste of what they’re about, check out the most recent ITM Podcast featuring the sounds of Buraka Som Sistema. Tracklisting is as follows…

1. Luanda/Lisboa (feat. Dj Znobia)
2. Sound of Kuduro (feat M.I.A., Dj Znobia, Saborosa, Puto Prata)
3. Aqui para Voces (feat. Deize Tigrona)
4. Kalemba (Wegue Wegue) feat Pongo Love
5. Kurum
6. IC19
7. Tiroza (feat. Bruno M)
8. General
9. New Africas pt. 1
10. New Africas pt. 2
11. Beef
12. Black Diamond (feat. Virus Syndicate)

Have a look at the clip for Kalemba (Wegue Wegue)...