Recent Press
“And while the honey-coated vocals and lilting guitar style are instantly recognisable, the lyrics are far more exotic — consisting of Zulu and Xhosa folk songs inspired by his native South Africa. Lovely stuff it is too; delicate yet powerful enough to silence a buzzing room.”
Oxford Times review at Oxford’s Jericho Tavern, October 2014 Oxford Times
www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/music/contemporary/reviews/11569169.Rock_love_in_at_Jericho_Jamboree/
"Think of a mix between Paul Simon and the Owimy Sigoma Band and you’re on the right track … this guy is singing so powerfully."
- Reviewed at the Sebright Arms, January 2014
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"Count Drachma is the most unique – you’re unlikely to find another around these parts that plays authentic Zulu maskandi folk music"
- Oxford Mail Wilderness Festival preview, August 2013 j.mp/19dF9Rb
"...Oli & Rob Steadman, who are the beating heart of the band... native South Africans, Zulu speakers, and share a deep love of their homeland’s indiginous maskandi music. The Jo’burg rhythms are spliced with looped saxophones, ‘reggaeton’ percussion and the kind of Celtic flavours you’d expect..."
- Oxford Times gig preview, June 2013 j.mp/189QQaI
"Captivating and refreshingly original"
- Reviewed at St Pancras Church London, November 2012 j.mp/Vk9T87
"Every song, be it a version of a Zulu nursery rhyme or a translated American song, was a delight to listen to, opening the audiences’ eyes to a new realm of world music and a great language! The zulu-adapted guitar playing... and use of unusual instruments, like the cajon and Greek bazuki, perfectly represented the brothers’ South African roots. Furthermore Oli and Rob included beautifully sung harmonies into their set"
- Reviewed at Sofar Sounds Birmingham, October 2012 j.mp/10J3rut
"Count Drachma transported the audience to their native South Africa with their zulu beats... their melodies flowed in a sea of colour and with saxophone grooves and bass-harmonicas aplenty, the set featured a medley of various folktunes, lullabies, and even a song about a shape-shifting lizard."
- Reviewed at Modern Art Oxford, April 2012 j.mp/SyYcv0
Song 1 is a Zulu folk nursery rhyme about the Imbulu.
Song 2 cover "Black Hills" by Gardens & Villa, translated by Oli.
Songs 3+4 are folk songs by our favourite band Juluka.
Song 5 is one of our own creations.