Summer tune: Highlife – F Kenya Rip

The sun is blazing today, there are blue skies galore and the Dublin boyos are out in the park incubating their pale raw skin with a mild form of skin cancer. Aah, summer in Dublin. ‘F Kenya Rip’ is a perfect soundtrack to a walk in the park or along the canal after work. From Highlife, the brainchild of Sleepy Doug Shaw of the band White Magic comes this Spencer Krug-fronting Dirty Projectors covering an afrobeat band vibe of a tune.

Shaw told Pinglewood and their NME blog that the song is inspired by an African highlife band called F. Kenya’s Guitar Band so at least Shaw is upfront about the influence. Indeed, the repeating phrase of ‘F Kenya Rip’ is taken from one of the band’s songs ‘Madame Zehae Ala (Just As I Am)’ and the guitar lines are similar too. (Listen to a short stream of that song on this page). Great tune all the same. Perfect for a day like today.

Highlife – F Kenya Rip

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Niall Byrne

Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.