pigeon: yagana ep
Francisco Espregueira
Pigeon is an exciting project led by the powerful vocals of Guinean singer Falle Nioke, incredibly well complemented by a wealth of experience and talent from Graham Godfrey on drums, Steve Pringle on keys, Tom Dream on guitar and Josh Ludlow on bass. Having moved to the UK from West Africa in 2018, Nioke has recently been in the spotlight with EPs heavily supported by indie radios and BBC 6 Music playlisters. Together with his bandmates he presents Yagana EP, singing in a multitude of languages, with four tracks that cross effortlessly between Afro-disco, grunge, no wave and jazz.
The Yagana EP is an emotionally-charged offering, exploring themes of lust, saudade (eng: longing), homesickness, and hope for peace. The title track “Yagana” translates to “it’s been a while”, and though its up-tempo disco rhythm and wild synth solos lend a cheerful disposition, the lyrics describe a melancholic yearning for Africa. “Nothing Grows” follows on from the Afro-disco opener, bringing down the tempo and intensity. The ‘Pigeon’ feathers are suddenly ruffled by the entrance of “It’s You” - a sultry story of burning desire that channels grunge textures and elements of no wave. Closing the EP, “War (Jam)” returns the record to its 4x4 disco pace, featuring rapid-fire hats and high-pitched guitar riffs seemingly nodding to Mugithi, a genre often associated with political commentary.
Recorded in a single weekend, Pigeon’s Yagana EP is a clear testament to each member’s skilfulness and varied experiences, creating a fully-fledged being that is greater than the sum of its parts. Available on vinyl, courtesy of Soundway Records.