PREMIERE: Geko Jones, Uproot Andy and Chief Boima's "Suriname Ting" EP

After a successful 2013 launch, tropical bass label Que Bajo Records announces their third release, Suriname Ting, a two-track EP featuring the collec

suriname ting ep

Image via Que Bajo

suriname ting ep

After a successful 2013 launch, tropical bass label Que Bajo Records announces their third release, Suriname Ting, a two-track EP featuring the collective remixing talents of producers Uproot Andy, Geko Jones, and Chief Boima. If the name sounds familiar, the label is affiliated with the longtime and renowned monthly Que Bajo tropical bass party in New York City. As with all things Que Bajo, these tracks are much more than remixes, but rather offer a prism-like view into both culture and sound that when accessed by each individual listener creates a unique experience all its own. Though wholly respectful of the sound's organic origins, the remixes offer an entry for styles foreign to modern dance to have equal space for expression and respect.

If unfamiliar with South American geography, history and politcs, Suriname is South America's smallest sovereign country, located on the northern coast, situated between Guyana and French Guiana and north of Brazil. Once known as Dutch Guiana, with its largest populations being descendants of East Indians from near the border of Nepal, West Indian/Dutch Creoles and Indonesians. Thus, the organic sounds on this EP are the well-known soca, and the less known aleke, the latter a frenetic, percussion-heavy African sound with a funk-driven groove.

Yakki Famirie's "Faluma" is drenched in zouk yet maintains it's soca style, the track feeling like a river that appears free-flowing at the surface, yet has a definite chop in it's undercurrent. Similar to much of what Enchufada Records and much of the European underground is up to these days, the American-based trio crafts something with a distinctive and progressive groove. As for Prince Koloni's "Luku A Meisje," Uproot Andy and Geko Jones find the turn up in aleke and craft a trap-styled remix that stands tall in a lane all its own. Not erring on the side of big drops and ostentatious electronics, it's organic style is apparent and arguably the most appreciable part of its excellence.

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