WATER

It's been hot these past few days in England and most welcome it is, too. Of course, if this holiday weather goes on any longer than three or four days the climate puritans will be haranguing us for enjoying the sun. But until they appear, I thought I would recommend one of my favourite 'water' tracks to listen to on a hot day such as today appears to be.

'Oni Yalorde', by Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita, from their album 'Transparent Water' is to me like the musical version of ice cubes floating in a glass filled with either water or gin and tonic as they make that gentle clinking sound, nudging against each other like glacial wind chimes. The song itself is a tribute to the goddess of the river and fresh water, Ochun, from the Yoruba religion. According to tradition she is known for always being generous in providing an abundance of sweetness and love.

Collaborators, Cuban Omar Sosa (piano) and Sengalese Seckou Keita (Kora), create a blissful meditative vibe on 'Oni' that transports you to a place of complete tranquility like those days of childhood where you would be hypnotised by sun-reflected water on the side of a paddling pool as you'd watch random objects bob along the surface along with loose blades of grass. Adding another musical dimension to the sound world of 'Oni' is Wu Tong (sheng) that fuses far eastern vibes with the central afro-cuban partnership.

And so, before the moody grey clouds return to this island and the malicious rains pour down, enjoy this ice cool track that compliments so perfectly the hot sun out there.