Bo bay lanmen ("lend a hand") is an Antillean creole phrase that instantly telegraphs one of the rhythms of zouk/Antillean funk--a long downbeat followed by a offbeat dotted rhythm. If you dug the "Digital Zandoli" series like we did, you'll recognise it.

London party collective/label Beauty & the Beat have been putting out nice bits for a decade, from Wolf Muller dubs to percussive jazzy psych edits. In 2022 they launched a series exploring Antillean Gwoka, a word that encompasses a family of traditional drums as well as the style of music made with them. Gwoka is literally "big drum" and it's mad percussive business all the way; dancefloor mayhem in the right hands. Check out Kay Suzuki's rework on the first one below - blinding stuff !

Volume 3 brings us a track originally released on Disques Nuits d'Afrique; a recent collaboration between synth master Djenmbi (composer of Akiyo's 'Déboulé' - see BATB006) and Klod Kiavué with the Montreal-based duo Topium. The OG takes the Bo Bay Lanmen chorus on a mellow ride with Herb Alpert trumpet. Aroop Roy lends a hand with a remix stretching out the original into a nice groover. "Ti bedon" is uptempo organ-powered synth funk. Kay Suzuki returns on remix duties with a swirling, intoxicating trumpet/guitar psych freakout.

Excursions in Gwoka vol​. ​3 (BATB 008) is available on Bandcamp from 13-October-2025