Gabon music reviews

I have maybe 25 CDs of music from the continent, and this is still far and away my favorite. The one-disc "sampler" is like a "Best of..." -- very good, but as many listeners will know from first hand experience, some of the finer, and more subtle pieces are in the original complete recordings. True here in spades. If you only own one set of discs to represent Africa and all its nations and sounds, this is it.

If you're interested in listening to some African music and don't know where to start, you can't do better than this. It's got modern and traditional stuff on it -- mostly modern -- from all over the continent. My tapes of this set live in my cassette road case, and I listen to them when I go on long trips. The variety and quality are both excellent.

The booklet's a nice touch, too.

There are so many compilations out there, and this is one of the best. Regardless of how "important" or "representative" the songs chosen here are, they all sound great! A wonderful addition to any world or African music collection, and great for a beginner in African/world music!

This album is the sixth in a series of introductions to the world's great musical traditions. Each volume is built around a geographical theme and produced by an acknowledged expert in that area.

The African journey commences in Algeria and then heads South, stopping off in Cape Verde, Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Gabon, Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar, before terminating in South Africa. The 14 tracks are representative but slightly atypical of their regions; most share a semi-acoustic yet modern and edgy esthetic. While a single CD cannot possibly showcase the music of an entire continent, these examples are a good way to get acquainted - or reacquainted - with Africa's stunning musical diversity. The set culminates in a moving rendition of the South African national hymn "Nkosi Sikilele I'Afrika," as performed by the Imilonji Kantu Choral Society, who sang it at former President Nelson Mandela's inauguration.

Akendengwe creates his own afro-pop that is very different from popular soukous, mbalax. His music is a pure listening pleasure and this album may be the perfect introduction to it. The recording is fantastic. I like to sit and enjoy this album just like I do with some nice classical music. Akendengwe's work is a wonderful mix of modern and traditional instruments, beautiful female choir and good warm voice of his own. This album was an ear-opener for me to a different dimension of afro-pop. Akendengwe's music is different but is as good as Youssou N'Dour's. The album contains 12 songs and is 60 minutes long.

This was the very first African cd I ever bought. I don't remember what grade I was in but I know I was in highschool so it's probably been about 10 years ago that I bought it. This cd deserves to be reviewed.

The thing that continues to really get me about this album is that if you just give it a lazy listen you will miss what is actually going on with this music. Some of the songs have an overall contour that may seem like constant repetition if you aren't really paying attention. However, if you are actually listening to it (and not just playing it in the background as you do other things) there is a world of overlapping rhythmic complexity changing and turning inside all of these songs. These drums also have very unique tones. This may sound odd but I hope it doesn't... there is almost a rubberyness to some of these drum sounds. A really tight bounce (or something) that I haven't heard coming from other types of drums. Also, it just struck me that all this time I forgot about Volume One! I don't have that one but I'll have to correct that situation soon.

This is really an incredible cd to listen to outside at night. I've listened to it while sitting around a campfire by a river at night before and it was a really beautiful experience. Sitting still would be quite a feat during this cd. This is really a great example of one of the communal dance musics for which West Africa is known. This cd may almost make you wish you knew all your neighbors and could all come together and dance together to some of the many rhythms of life. I really feel lucky that I decided to take a chance on this recording when I stumbled upon it way back when. It really jump-started an entire world of interest in Indigenous African musics for me, and even now that I am much more knowledgeable than I was then it still holds up as a classic recording.

This is simply HAPPY music! If you like West African rhythms, you will love this CD. What's also great about this CD is that the bulk of the songs are ALL great, unlike so many other CDs, where there's maybe 1 or 2 great songs, and the rest are just so-so. Note that this CD is sung entirely in French. For reference, a similar type musical style might be Madilu System or Sylvester Williams.

This is the best CD Oliver N'goma has produced so far, I think it's safe to say. It's very eclectic - from the more classic central African rhythms we're all used to from him, to some strong Zairean kwasa-kwasa styles, and even to a few Latin American beats. Thoroughly infectious music to listen to over, and over and over. And his vocals are just the best. I only wish he would give concerts in Rome where we live. Oh well, the CD is the next best thing. Do enjoy it!

ONLY A REAL TRUE BOB FAN CAN TELL THAT THIS IS NOT RECORDED FROM GABON AFRICA. THIS IS FROM OAKLAND CALI. GABON IS A RARE BOB PERFORMANCE WITH NOT MANY COPIES.
SORRY TO BUST YOUR BUBBLE BUT ITS TRUE

ONLY A REAL TRUE BOB FAN CAN TELL THAT THIS IS NOT RECORDED FROM GABON AFRICA. THIS IS FROM OAKLAND CALI. GABON IS A RARE BOB PERFORMANCE WITH NOT MANY COPIES.
SORRY TO BUST YOUR BUBBLE BUT ITS TRUE

Bob Marley is truely at his best when he performs live, and it shows here. If you think that you've heard all these songs before, you haven't, because Marley puts a new spin on every song he does live. My favs on this CD are Running Away/Crazy Baldheads, One Drop, Africa Unite, and No Woman No Cry. The sax is definatley a nice touch, and the I-Threes are good as always. You must own this CD.

True to form, japanese Wailers' bootlegs are mislabeled and edited. This particular show is sweet, sweet, sweet and was performed in Oakland, CA 11.30.79 not Gabon. Positive Vibration (opening song), Natty Dread, Get Up Stand Up (closing tracks) have been omitted. Marley vocals have a delay(aaay-aay-ay) on various notes/words. Sweet, Sweet, Sweet! However, this recording is presented at a much faster tempo than was actually performed. Suggest you invest the effort in finding online "Marley traders" who can do justice to the spirit of the Wailers and provide the real deal sans pecuniary pursuit. Seen?

Bob Marley bootlegs are a hit and miss affair. Sometimes they're great in every respect - sound, performance and accuracy. Sometimes the show that is listed isn't the show that's presented. It takes some real work at times to figure out what you're actually listening to. This appears to be the show in Gabon although I think a few tracks are missing. The performance, taken from the last year of Marley's life is amazing, and although there are hints of fatigue and illness - the band seems to pull more of the show's weight than previously and there are almost no breaks between songs - this is a fresh and dynamic performance. Songs like "Running Away" and "Wake up and Live" aren't on any of the official live albums. The price is high - and all of this music could have fit on one CD, but it is worth it. If the sound was better - it sounds like it was recorded on a boom box - I'd give it a 5 star rating. It's up to you to decide. If you've played "live" and "Babylon by Bus" to death, you'll find this a great CD. If you want another great CD from this period, try "Live in Germany 80" Not all these songs are on it, but the sound is much better.