Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars are no strangers to Milwaukee, having last played the city at last year's Bastille Days, bringing their sunny blend of reggae, afropop and afrobeat to the Mil for an inspired performance at the height of our sunny summer days. These days, Milwaukee could use some of that same sunshine and SLRAS is back in our moment of need with a sunny-sounding new release called Libation, due out on March 14th on Cumbancha Records.
The album is good, albeit far more rootsy than 2012's Radio Salone and was produced by long-time collaborator Chris Velan. In some ways the acoustic style SLRAS employ on Libation is at the root of SLRAS' sound, one honed in refugee camps on rustic instruments. The vibe throughout is a far more intimate listen to a band that has come very far from the travails of Guinean refugee camps, often communing in Vermont, their label's home. On Libation, SLRAS remind us they are never far from where they've come from, Libation is their offering...
SLRAS is set to hit the road on April 11th in Minneapolis with other dates coming.
