Littered with crude synths, vulgar lyrics and migraine-inducing basslines, Spoek Mathambo’s music is known for being dark, twisted and often brilliant. On his latest record, however, the Soweto-born producer opts for glossier, club-friendly house beats better suited to the dancefloor than to attentive, repeated listens. Incorporating everything from Zulu folk to caffeine-jittery township tech, Mzansi Beat Code offers a varied, vibrant selection of South African styles, but Mathambo’s productions sound less raw and adventurous than on his previous albums. He’s kept his parental-advisory label with X-rated tracks such as Want Ur Love and Landed, and there are glimpses of his weird ingenuity on the trance-flavoured No Congo No Cellphone, but the album lacks his usual edge.
