Clap! Clap! – ‘Tayi Bebba’

Cristiano Crisci (Clap! Clap!) has been making headway on the scene since being picked up by the Bristolian imprint Black Acre. Having released the flavoursome Tambacounda EP in February, the Italian producer is back; displaying a similar formula with his production and, thankfully, a continued disregard for genre limitations.

His debut LP ‘Tayi Bebba’ is threaded with tape deck hisses, eclectic field recordings and vibrant percussion on top of overly aggressive kick drums and an Elephants Trumpet. Avoiding the predictable route, Crisci’s production makes for a rather unique listening experience. With an imagined island as the setting for this forthcoming conceptual album, each track is set to represent a different location on ‘Tayi Bebba’. The new LP will come accompanied by an island map with information on the story behind each area.

No time is wasted in getting to work on the 17 tracks on this LP, as the subdued natural ambience of ‘The Holy Cave’ leads into ‘Ashiko’. Bursting with colour, it oozes that incredible Africans vibe; epitomising the journey almost instantly. It’s loud and hectic but never overly intimidating.

Hypnotic and frantic vocal samples lace the release throughout. Tracks feel disjointed, broken, then glued together with delicate noise. Yet it’s one of the most cohesive and joyful LPs I’ve heard in quite some time. ‘The Rainstick Fable’ plays a big part in this: keeping the LP from being an overly intense experience, thanks to cute female vocals gracing smoothly above the playful chimes that soothe much like an infant’s nursery toy, bringing back that tangible wonder of discovery.

On the Four Tet-esque ‘Shakii’s Knowledge’, delicate synths blink playfully around woodwind pads that are as calming and unobtrusive as a subtle breeze. A definite highlight of the LP that sounds almost like a snippet, teasing you and leaving you wanting so much more.

There seems to be less of a focus on the darker, club-structured records that have been a large part of Crisci’s earlier work. However, that’s not to say his new tracks would be inappropriate in a club environment. ‘Shakii’ – the longest record on this LP coming in at 4:21 – takes an almost Night Slugs/Ultramajic kind of spin on things with aggressive kick and clap combos, whilst the DJ Khalab collaboration ‘Sahkii’s Elevation’ works as perfectly as expected. It’s a colourful, bubbly record that is spaced nicely by layered beat strip downs and a male vocal that hooks you and launches you right back into the insanity. Then come the 3 ‘Conqueror’ records, which sport more familiar UK sound backings. Laced with House, Dubstep, Footwork and Hip Hop influences. whilst ‘Kwasi’s Storm’ and ‘Black Smokes, Bad Signs’ hit hard with unexpected Grime/Jungle vibes, Clap! Clap!’s new album demonstrates a huge amount of genre cross-over throughout.

It’s quite frankly impossible to coin Clap! Clap! to one specific genre after ‘Tayi Bebba’, and that’s what is so fresh about this LP. Although certain unique sounds will always stick with Crisci, Clap! Clap! has set him up as one of the most relevant multi-genre producers out there.

Released on the 8th September through Black Acre, check out ‘The Rainstick Fable’ below and pick up your pre-orders here.

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