Global, Boundless, Collaboration, Celebratory.

Africa Express, the genre-blending collective founded by Damon Albarn, returns with Bahidorá, released on July 10, 2025 (via Transgressive Records). This dynamic, 21-track journey showcases the vibrant sounds of Africa alongside contemporary global music and styles. The album blends the cultural traditions of the African continent with modern genres like pop, hip-hop and electronic music, offering a mix of rhythms, melodies and voices.

The album’s standout feature is its cross-genre fusion, incorporating layered percussion, call-and-response vocal structures and hypnotic rhythms. The rich and textured soundscapes of Bahidora are punctuated by an infectious celebratory energy throughout.

Bahidorá also emphasizes its global approach, featuring collaborations from a wide range of artists, both from the African continent and beyond. The album features diverse vocal contributions, with lyrics sung in various African languages like Yoruba and Swahili, as well as English. This multilingual approach creates an immersive listening experience that feels both deeply local and universally accessible.

Though it spans an ambitious 21 tracks, Bahidorá never feels overwhelming. Its ability to maintain a sense of cohesion while allowing each song to stand out on its own is a testament to the careful curation of the album’s flow. Some listeners may think that the collaboration-heavy approach may occasionally dilute the focus of certain tracks, but it’s this very aspect that gives the album its strength, sense of unity and shared spirit of celebration that Africa Express aims to be.

When it comes to production, Bahidorá stands out for its fusion of analog warmth and digital sharpness. The contrast between traditional African instruments and electronic elements brings a modern edge to the sound without losing the essence of its roots. The album’s songs balance simplicity and complexity, with harmonic progressions that allow space for melodic intricacies to shine.

“Defi“ stands out as one of the more experimental tracks on Bahidorá. It blends elements of afrobeat, electronic and post-punk. “Defi” utilizes a non-linear structure, which is a signature move of Africa Express’ avant-garde style. It starts with a steady bassline and minimalist percussion, but soon builds with layers of synths and vocals that rise and fall in intensity. The track could be described as having a call-and-response dynamic, where the rhythms and vocals mirror each other.

While Bahidorá covers a wide range of styles, its underlying theme remains the same: a celebration of African culture and its place in the global musical landscape. It’s an album that pushes boundaries while remaining rooted in the richness of African heritage. Critics from outlets, such as Pitchfork andNME, have praised the album for its boldness and its ability to bridge musical divides, calling it a triumphant example of what collaborative music can achieve.

Bahidorá is a vibrant and expansive album that will appeal to fans of African music and global fusions. This album is bold with percussion-driven anthems. The album captures the essence of a cross-cultural celebration.

According to Spin Magazine, Bahidorá is one of the most exciting musical releases of the year, praising it for its “unrelenting creativity” and “dynamic range.” Meanwhile, Consequence of Sound describes it as “a testament to the power of collaboration, blending cultural sounds in ways that feel both fresh and timeless.”