King Ayisoba is one of Ghana’s most distinctive musical voices and the leading exponent of the kologo, a homemade two-string lute made from a calabash covered with goatskin. Born in 1974 in Bolgatanga, northern Ghana, Ayisoba comes from a family rooted in farming and Fra Fra traditions. His music combines hypnotic rhythms, spirituality and sharp social observation, while he sings in three different voices, including that of his grandfather, a respected spiritual healer whose presence he still feels. He rose to fame in 2006 with the album Modern Ghanaians and the hit single “I Want To See You My Father”, which earned him three Ghana Music Awards. Since then, he has built an international following through extensive touring and collaborations with artists such as Lee “Scratch” Perry, Orlando Julius and African Head Charge.

Adrian Sherwood is a British producer, the founder of On-U Sound and a key figure in the meeting of dub, post-punk, industrial, hip hop and experimental music. He has worked with artists including Lee “Scratch” Perry, Mark Stewart, Horace Andy, Sinéad O’Connor, Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode. Ayisoba and Sherwood first met in 2017 during a BBC Radio 3 session organised by Ayisoba’s collaborator Arnold de Boer/Zea. Their connection continued over the following years, and Ayisoba appeared on two tracks from African Head Charge’s 2023 album A Trip To Bolgatanga. In late 2024, the two reunited at Sherwood’s studio in Ramsgate, where they recorded the songs for Pure Confusion live, in a single afternoon.

As producer, Sherwood preserved the spontaneity and energy of the performances while adding programming, dub effects and psychedelic textures. The album also features musicians such as Doug Wimbish, Ivan Hussey, Alex White, Alan Glenn, Ayuune Sule and Matt Smith. Pure Confusion explores the contradictions and challenges of contemporary Ghana: “Property” addresses corruption and conflicts over land ownership; “Bemba” deals with illness and social stigma; and “Tewigiloge” encourages open-mindedness in the face of cultural differences. Spirituality runs throughout the record, culminating in “Leeda-Mampanga”, a reflection on humility and gratitude towards God. Pure Confusion brings together the tradition of the kologo and Sherwood’s experimental sensibility, creating a vibrant, direct and deeply human sound.