When French producer Radioclit met Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya inside a London thrift shop, the two began a fusion of sound and culture which evolved into The Very Best. Their debut album Warm Heart of Africa has Radioclit layering warm afro melodies over uplifting electronic beats with the soul coming from Mwamwaya’s vocals. Although he sings in his native Chichewa, Mwamwaya communicates a passion that drips with happiness universally understood. Ezra Koenig and M.I.A. both appear on the album along with a few others you’ll have to hear for yourself.

The group first arrived on the scene in 2008 with the global success of “Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit Are The Very Best”, a free mixtape with Mwamwaya singing over remixes of Michael Jackson (Free Willy theme), Vampire Weekend (“Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa”), Hans Zimmer (True Romance theme) and M.I.A. (“Paper Planes”). You can download the mixtape here.

Back in NYC for the second time this year, The Very Best will be performing at Le Poisson Rouge October 21st with Theophilus London & Ninjasonik as part of Green Owl’s CMJ showcase. Tickets are $12 in advanced. You can also catch a surprise set at Other Music October 22nd at noon sharp. Keep up with us as we bring you full coverage from this and other events at the CMJ Marathon.

The Very Best – Warm Heart of Africa featuring Ezra Koenig

The Very Best – Rain Dance featuring M.I.A.

Brace yourself for hazardous dance floor anthems well-fed on the homegrown African sounds of high-life and marabi, as well as bass-laden pop grooves from, well, all over the globe. -San Francisco Bay Guardian