Tuff Times Never Last

The second studio album from London-based 7-piece band Kokoroko. Afrobeat jazz fused with UK neo-soul, r&b, boogie, and more. Features a grooving rhythm section, guitars, horns, synths, and a mix of solo & ensemble voices--both from within the band and from a variety of guest vocalists.

Released 7/11/25.

FCC Clean

1.* Breezy, soulful lovers rock feel. Afrobeat guitar, melodic bass, group vocals, and a trombone solo. Ends with interplay b/w guitar, trumpet, and warbling synths.
2. Laid-back, West African disco/boogie influenced track.
3.* Slinky neo-soul/hip-hop groove. Syncopated rhythm guitar, jazzy keys, and horn & synth stabs. Slow fadeout w/ spoken vocal outro.
4. Church feel with 90s-r&b-style group vocals. Keys and voices only.
5.* Sensual, cross-stick-driven groove. Airy female guest vocals, melancholy horns, delicate piano lines, and a guitar solo towards the end.
6. Gentle, bouncing afrobeat. Falsetto male guest vocals, woozy synths, nose flute sounds, and horns & backing singers swelling together.
7. Light, UK neo-soul groove. Female guest vocalist over funky bass, jazzy keys, and horns. Keys solo towards the end.
8.* Wistful, mid-tempo boogie number. Call & response w/ horns, synths, and vocals. Brief, darkly funky turn around halfway.
9.* Hazy, jazzy drum-machine funk w/ horn solos & water-drop(?) sounds. Ends w/ a delightfully sinister turn as the sax & synth players unleash their instruments.
10.* Mellow, soulful afro-boogie. Female lead vocals & backing harmonies over a spacious drum groove, slap bass, keys, horns, and both disco & African guitar styles.
11. Slow, instrumental track until vocals come in at 4 min. Fake ending at 5 min, followed by an upbeat, funky reprise w/ rich filtered synth tones.