Afro-Left

"Afro-Left" is a song by the English electronic duo Leftfield, released as their seventh single. The song was released on 12", CD and cassette on 24 July 1995 by Hard Hands/Chrysalis. It featured Neil Cole (as Djum Djum) on vocals, and it was rumoured that the lyrics were in an unspecified African language; it was later revealed that they were simply gibberish, or "Djum Djum talk".^[2] The song reached #22 in the UK charts.

"Afro-Left"
CD single cover
Single by Leftfield featuring Djum Djum
from the album Leftism
Released	24 July 1995
Recorded	Rollover Studios, London
Genre	Techno, progressive house^[1]
Length	7:32
Label	Hard Hands/Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)	Neil Barnes, Paul Daley, Neil Cole
Producer(s)	Leftfield
Leftfield featuring Djum Djum singles chronology
"Original" (1995) "Afro-Left" (1995) "Release the Pressure" (1996)

The B-side "Afro Ride", a remix of "Afro-Left", was used in the 1995 game wipE'out".^[3]

Critical reception

David Bennun from Melody Maker found that "Afro-Left" "turns a spoken African vocal into music, takes words without meaning, and infuses them with virtual melody. It's so original, so brilliantly conceived and mellifluously executed that it's almost shocking when you first hear it."^[4] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Centrefielder Djum Djum adds the Afro flavour to the "intellectual dance" with his typically African diction. All four mixes will hit clubs and specialist radio shows like a homerun."^[5]

Roger Morton from NME stated that the track "adds Brazilian percussion and African scatting to a Moroder-esque throb and still hits home on the dancefloor."^[6] Another NME editor, David Quantick, commented, "Alas, 'Afro Left' substitutes — no doubt intentionally — thrilling thumping electronics for a kind of idle stop about, neatly accompanying the sampled vocal of a bloke talking to himself in an African language. It thrills not, neither does it entertain."^[7] The magazine's Andy Crysell was more positive, naming it one of the "highlights" of the album.^[8]

Track listing

• 12" #1

1. "Afro Ride" — 9:10
2. "Afro Sol" — 6:02
3. "Afro Central" — 7:43

• 12" #2

1. "Afro Left" — 7:32
2. "Afro Ride" — 9:10
3. "Afro Sol" — 6:02

• 12" EP

1. "Afro Sol" — 6:02
2. "Afro Ride" — 9:10
3. "Afro Central" — 7:43
4. "Afro Left" — 7:32^[9]

• CD

1. "Afro Left" — 7:32
2. "Afro Ride" — 9:10
3. "Afro Sol" — 6:02
4. "Afro Central" — 7:43

• Australian CD

1. "Afro Left" (Edit) — 4:43
2. "Afro Left" — 7:32
3. "Afro Ride" — 9:10
4. "Afro Sol" — 6:02
5. "Afro Central" — 7:43

Charts

Chart (1995)	Peak position
UK Singles (OCC)	22

References

1. Cinquemani, Sal (2 November 2002). "Leftfield - Leftism". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
2. . Leftfield Online. Archived from the original on 2007-05-26. Retrieved 2006-11-05.
3. "Wipeout". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine (1). Emap International Limited: 6–19. October 1995.
4. Bennun, David (21 January 1995). "Albums". Melody Maker. p. 34. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
5. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 19 August 1995. p. 14. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
6. Morton, Roger (28 January 1995). "Long Play". NME. p. 46. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
7. Quantick, David (29 July 1995). "Singles". NME. p. 44. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
8. Crysell, Andy (22 July 1995). "Groove Check". NME. p. 20. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
9. "Leftfield Featuring Djum Djum – the Afro Left EP (1995, Vinyl)".