KOKOKO! + LALALAR
KOKOKO! + LALALAR
Istanbul powerhouse trio Lalalar and Kinshasa sonic pioneers KOKOKO! meet on stage for a special night in Bucharest, this autumn – October 5 at Control Club.
The show is part of a series of events marking Control Club’s 16th anniversary.
Tickets are now available via Eventbook.
After setting European stages on fire with the release of their first LP in 2022, Lalalar return with En Kötü Iyi Olur, an album that reflects their image: edgy, independent, political, and tremendously effective. With their roots in Anatolian poetry and sounds, but their focus on a club-oriented, uncompromising rock, Lalalar has not given up and is once again ready to turn everything upside down.
The brainchild of three of Turkey’s most active and innovative alternative artists – Ali Güçlü Şimşek, Barlas Tan Özemek and Kaan Düzarat – the music of Lalalar is a thrilling mix of punk energy, dark electronics and Turkish instrumentation and samples.
Furious electro-techno-rock from Istanbul – Backseat Mafia
A pounding beat and circuitous guitar melody situates the band in a delightful interzone between booming industrial rock and heady prog. – Bandcamp Daily
Lalalar – Göt (video) : https://youtu.be/lB-TsAa5Ioo
Lalalar – Yamyam (live) : https://youtu.be/rl6UzRRySuA
Pioneers of Kinshasa’s sonic revolution, KOKOKO! have captivated global audiences with their striking sonics and energetic performances since 2017. Their accolades include best live band award by AIF, NPR Tiny Desk and Boiler Room slots, appearances at festivals including All Points East, SXSW, Green Man and Pitchfork Festival, and a placement on the Grand Theft Auto and FIFA soundtracks. Their debut album, Fongola, achieved near universal praise, with DJ Mag labelling it “quite unlike anything else you’ll hear”, while The Guardian called the group a “commanding new voice”.
The Congolese city’s after-dark buzz was the inspiration behind BUTU, the second album from KOKOKO!, released July 2024. BUTU means ‘the night’ in Lingala, and the experimental record dives deep into the heart of the chaotic place, celebrating the joyful and creative spirit of its inhabitants. With vocalist Makara Bianko at the helm and production from Xavier Thomas, AKA Débruit, this follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut Fongola finds the band channelling a more electronic, upbeat sound. BUTU is a replication of the frenetic feel of that dynamic nightlife – equipment being pushed to its limit, via saturated and distorted speakers, or the sonic push and pull of sounds after dark.
KOKOKO! – Mokili (video) : https://youtu.be/jCdRqx1h9E0
KOKOKO! – Live on KEXP : https://youtu.be/eYdP5csCC3E
