Afrofuturist Spoek Mathambo isn’t known for nostalgia. The closest he’s come so far to messing with the past is “Control” his decidedly updated versioning of a Joy Division song.

But his latest project is downright curatorial. On Nombolo One the South African post-hip hop polymath reimagined 12 classic South African songs dating from the ’7os to today — in his own inimitable style. His cover of “Melodi” by Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens features Cape Town creepsters The Frown.

The covers album is a debut for his production crew Nombolo One and, with artwork from Cape Town based art collective Love&Hate Studio, it’s also the first in a series of music and art collaborations called Motel11 Roadtrip Tapes put together by one louder.agency. Nombolo One will be available in a very small physical release that comes with wood cases and limited edition patches, and very limited edition denim jackets. Luckily, the music will also be released free at Motel11.tv on December 20th.

Looking ahead again, watch for his sophomore album Father Creeper, out on Sub Pop in March 2012.

Photo courtesy of Spoek Mathambo