Homebrew Hits

In a country with 11 official languages and an amalgamation of cultures, getting just the right blend for a fully representative 'home brew' presents quite a challenge. Thankfully talent, unlike electricity, is something South Africa does not have in short supply.

Taking a drive down Long Street in the Mother City reveals a mosque leaning shoulder to shoulder against a bar, a Kauai adjacent a KFC, and a Standard Bank sleeping peacefully next to the raucous Purple Turtle. This composite of seemingly clashing concepts is akin to the patchwork of genres and artists represented on this double CD compilation. Melodic rock is followed by electronica, an orchestral love ballad by R&B, and afro-pop with afro-hop.

A selection of accomplished South African staples such as Just Jinger, Watershed, Karen Zoid and Seether lay a solid foundation for developing artists like Harris Tweed and Holly & the Woods to stand on.

Prime Circle's 'Moments' is a rhapsodic expression of the golden, fleeting moments we should savour. 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You' by Denim makes full use of the song's iconic brass riff in this quirky yet extremely danceable remix. The enigmatic track 'Somewhere' by Walt contributed to raising awareness about missing children, encouraging local bands to care about local issues. 'The Knife' by Zebra and Giraffe is a dark track twisted with subtle elements of The Cure and underground emo-core, belying the playful sound of the band's name. The track that follows is Fevertree's 'Everytime', which lightens the mood with its irresistable feel-good vibe.

Granted, successfully mixing such a diverse selection of tracks smoothly is not easy. The compilation makes a few drastic swerves from genre to genre which can jolt the senses like going over a pot hole on a dirt road.

Within ten minutes of listening to 'Homebrew Hits', you'll feel remarkably proud of what South Africa has to offer. In a time wrought with political tensions and tough economic conditions, atleast the radiowaves are are rich with the export-quality fruits of our country's diverse musical crop.