Clap! Clap! - A Thousand Skies (2017)

Clap! Clap! (aka Cristiano Crisci) returns with his second album for Black Acre, following on from his colorful breakthrough debut LP 'Tayi Bebba'.

After contributions to Beating Heart’s Malawi compilation last year, Florence producer Cristiano Crisci returns to the Black Acre fold for a second Clap! Clap! album. Looking to expand on his vibrant 2014 debut album, Crisci retains the narrative-driven approach on A Thousand Skies whilst engaging with more guest artists on a series of collaborations. Planet Mu signees John Wizards feature alongside fellow South African folk singer Bongeziwe Mabandla, Crammed Discs duo OY and Italian beatmaker HDADD.

These collaborations add further colour to the Clap! Clap! world, the live instrumentation of John Wizards meshing perfectly with Crisci’s nimble-fingered sample manipulation on A Thousand Skies Under Cepheus’ Erudite Eyes. OY seem perfect studio partners for Crisci on the light hip hop flutter of Hope, whilst Ar-Raqis comes on like A Made Up Sound let loose on Ndagga Rhythm Force.

Its debatable how convincing the narrative thrust is, supposedly framed around a young girl’s journey skywards towards the stars, but Crisci’s colourful sonic vision is engaging enough.