Towards an Expanse moves through its soundscape of Xhosa traditions and digital adventuring with the same attention to detail throughout. “Layer After Layer,” the opening salvo from Dumama’s prismatic debut album, mirrors its namesake in its expertly layered mille-feuille of hand drums, organ drone, and synth flashes — a considered, holistic process that endures across the electro-acoustic album’s 11 intricate songs.
On the first track, this creates a rich backdrop against which Dumama’s Morcheeba-esque downtempo serenade can drape itself. From then on, Towards an Expanse unfolds as a loving union between music and storytelling, mixing English lyrics with whispers and Xhosa chants.
Indeed, instruments are everywhere on…