Africa music reviews

I have had this CD for about two weeks! If this were a vynal record you would be hearing the scratches already from all the replays I have put this CD through! TSHALA! WOW!

Hamza el Din is a magnificent oud player, a respectable drummer, and a touching singer, but some of his albums (e.g. "Lily of the Nile") are rather difficult to get into unless you're a student of Middle Eastern music. This one isn't: the tunes range from his own compositions to the 9th century Andalusian-Arabic "Muwashshah," and span a variety of subjects and moods. The backup musicians (Japanese, surprisingly) are excellent too. I first made the acquaintance of this album when a substitute teacher brought it to my belly dance class. Even if I don't feel like practicing, the final track always gets me up and dancing!

This album is like nothing else. The rhythms and the heavy persussion are clearly african in origin, but the harmonies often have gospel overtones reminescent of north american deep south church music with a hint of bubble gum. The cuts duma duma, momma I'm sorry, and they all want me down are awesome. This album topped the charts in south africa for several months and the artist sold more recordings than any other artist in the southern hemisphere over the last 5 years.

THE POWERHOUSE DANCE NUMBER "MYSTIQUE" IS THE TITLE SONG OF THE CD AND REFERS TO HISTORIC BAKONGO RHYTHMS OF SHIMITA'S NATIVE LAND. THIS ENERGETIC INTRO IS FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER FAST ONE "ZONGA" (COME BACK) AND THE EQUALLY DANCEABLE "SANS RETOUR"
(NO RETURNING). THINGS MELLOW A BIT FOR THE PRETTY "FAKIRA". "SYBEL" IS SOUKOUS STYLE, FOLLOWED BY THE ROMANTIC "LOVE ME BABY" IN ENGLISH & FRENCH. "NGOUYA" IS ANOTHER
LINGALA SOUKOUS-ZOUK SONG AND THE CD WRAPS UP WITH ANOTHER HIGHLY
ENJOYABLE DANCE TUNE "QUI VIVRA VERRA" (TIME WILL TELL).

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CDS OF ALL TIME. THE AMAZING THING IS
THAT SHIMITA DOES ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING BY HIMSELF ON IT: THE LEAD VOCALS, THE HARMONY & THE ANIMATION -- IT'S A MONUMENTAL OPUS THAT SHOWCASES HIS WIDE VOCAL RANGE, HIS ARRANGEMENTS,HIS
ABILITY TO WRITE "HOOKS", AND EVEN HIS SENSE OF HUMOR WHICH PERVADES ALL OF HIS WORK.

HE'S NOT YOUR USUAL SOUKOUS/AFRICAN SINGER AND THIS CD IS AN INTERESTING LATE 90'S INTRO TO WHERE HE'S HEADED IN THE FUTURE!

I LOVE IT!!!

I am listening it to now as I work in my office and I just thought I should let any fortunate soul who stumbles across this review know that: if you like late 60's Congolese soukous (the REAL, classic soukous), buy this CD on sight; if you don't know late 60's Congolese soukous yet, take a chance with this as it is beautifully sweet, melodic groove music with loads of sax, closer in style to African Fiesta than to OK Jazz.

Total time 55:21, this CD of Vox Africa hits from 1967/1968 has compositions by Bombenga (10), Papa Noel (2), Samy and Silis - the cover lists Sam Mangwana and Dalienst as band members.

All songs are excellent. Bavon Marie-Marie was Franco's younger brother, by six years, and every bit as great a guitarist. The sound is quite similar to OK Jazz, but more mellow. With the exception of one gorgeously smooth love song, the tracks groove all the way through with high energy guitar and loads of sax, the last one also incorporating native Congolese drum rhythms. Classic soukous! I love it!

Better of the two Sonodisc Negro Succes CDs simply because it is the longer. Total time 68:42, this CD of Negro Succes hits from the late '60s has songs composed by Bholen (3), Bavon Marie-Marie (3), Mujos (2), Alphonso (2), Gaspy (3), Zozo and Morro.

This has to be the best Tuku release besides Tuku music. "Neria" is simply the best ballad in his repertoire, a perfect blending of lead and acoustic guitars with lead and backing vocals, and an acoustic version augments that view. If you've never heard what heartfelt, desperately painful music from the soul sounds like, just listen to "Tarirai", which is set to a funky stomping rhythm. You'll be hardpressed to find a mbira-guitar style harder than that on "Muchatuta" Non-Shona speakers will be pleased to know that at least four songs are partly in English, including the old hit "Psst Psst --- Hello" redone as only Tuku can. This album has it all, from the churchical offering "Tinomuchema" to the laid back stoned feel of "Mean what you say" and a host of stompers to get you off your feet. Definitely top notch stuff!

An absolutely enthralling compilation of super-rare 78s and 45s recorded right after the independence of the Republic of Congo (aka Zaire) in 1948. There's a bewildering stylistic variety here, from blues-y acoustic numbers and Big Band pop, to more traditional sounding material. This is one of those rare discs that's packed full of songs that leap out at you, and a much-beloved classic among fans of African pop. Definitely worth checking out!

First I'd like to say that Pulino Vieira is one of my favorite artists in the whole world. He plays almost all the instruments w/ great quality, and also he is a humble man. Buy anything that you see with his name, you will not regret it. Nha Primero Lar is a classic work of Paulino, where he explores Capeverdean music , in particular the music of the island where he was born: S�o Nicolau. This Cd is a tribute to his father, that also was a great musician.

A real pleasure to listen,one of my favorite african cd,combines western elements with rich traditional african influence. a good start for first time expireance with african music.