Who is Afrobeta?
Afrobeta is the collaborative effort between Miami residents Cuci Amador and Tony Smurphio - two people you've likely never heard of. Together, they are Afrobeta, and have recently released the EP, Do You Party? This collection of songs, while intriguing, ultimately fails to whet the palette entirely. The pairing produce interesting electronica but the songwriting seems a little lackluster and, at times, forced.
Tracks like opener "Play House" charm with an effortless swag and interesting internal variations. What starts as a spunky, naughty electro banger switches notes halfway through to incorporate an old school house bit where Cuci effectively sings the words (house diva style), "Listen up, because we're through/no man tells me what to do!" The track then descends back into the odd and compelling assortment of electro wiggles and retro game noises that draws you in from the beginning. "Play House" is ultimately not indicative of what Afrobeta offer, because one style isn't enough for them.
A little bit of freestyle
On the freestyle attempt that is "Do You Party?", the group try for a sing-along anthem in parts and 90s hip-hop in others, two styles that don't really meet in the middle in any successful fashion. Embracing a toned-down and slicker style, "Two Different Worlds" seems the group's likeliest stab at commercial success as it vibes on pop songwriting versus dance songwriting. It has elements of darkness, which work in its favor, however the story of the track feels forced. Finishing out the EP is "As Long As You Like," more of a pop rock track still living in the dark electro vibe of the previous tracks. The writing is second to "Play House."
In the grand scheme of things, out of 4 tracks, only one is truly disposable. "Do You Party?" makes me cringe, but the rest are tolerable if not outright fun. It isn't enough, though, to give a good idea of what the group is capable of. The EP feels like a series of B-sides to "Play House," which is the obvious standout and a direction I'd love to see the duo continue to go. With a full album in the works, ultimately we will discover which tracks worked best for the group, but honestly there can never really be too much naughty electronica.
Released August 2010 on Do It Records.
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
