Spoek Mathambo: Mzansi Beat Code review – lightening up for the dance floor

(Teka Records)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 Ma