South Africa music reviews

Simon Mahlatini and the Mahotella Queens started making music in the 1960s and in the next decade they became one of South Africa's most popular groups. The Queens recorded on their own and with Mahlatini whose gravely voice serves as the perfect counterpoint to their exuberant vocal harmonies. This style of music is called Mbaqanga, a rhythmic dance-friendly style of pop. They sing about the style on the catchy track with that title which is one of my favorites. Other great hits include Malaika, the lilting Jive Motella with its rousing vocals, Rastaman with its reggae influence, Thina Siyakhanyisa, Josefa and Dilika Town Hall. There is plenty of variety within their township pop style. With their huge recorded output, this Best Of compilation only scratches the surface but it does contain a number of their greatest evergreen hits. The tunes are catchy, the harmonies exquisite and the interplay between Mahlatini's deep voice and the Queens' high register makes for marvelous dramatic tension. This music is guaranteed to make you happy! I also recommend their albums Thokozile and Mbaqanga, both classic works that are packed with great songs.

If you're only familiar with Miriam Makeba's folk-era recordings ("The Click Song," etc.) then take the time to check out this amazing set of her earliest work from the mid-1950s, with the Skylarks vocal ensemble. This is South African "jive" music, a mix of ska-like African rhythms and American jazz and swing melodies - some of the most cheery and infectious music you'll ever hear! This is a great single-CD retrospective; there's are also a 2-volume collection on Teal Records in case you want MORE!

South Afican music is a world of its own. You can't compare it to any other style from Africa or anywhere else. Yvonne Chaka Chaka is one of the leading figures in SA popular music. Her songs on this CD will catch you immediately, humming and moving to the special laid back beat. Chaka's music is a group effort, like most good SA music. She uses melodies similar to those used by Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Mariam Makeba, though using more modern instrumentation. The rhythmes build slowly into a soft trance atmosphere, where even if you don't dance, SOMETHING INSIDE YOU HAS TO MOVE. for me it is great dance music, especially after dancing with South Africans to this special music. Chaka dedicates the title song to the heroes of SA - Lutuly, Mandela, Tambo, Mbeki and others. The CD contains 8 songs full of love, that set positive forces into motion. Listening to this CD is a healing experience to the soul. There should definately be more world recognition of SA music based on this CD.

I can't beleive after all this time this excellent album has come out on CD....crystal clear, rockin', and joyful. The young Trevor Rabin (before he joined YES) was a masterful song writer and guitarist and proves it on every track of this timeless CD. They were huge (out selling the Beatles) but America never knew this wonderful CD and group, and what a shame that is. The original lineup released only 2 albums (this one plus the excellent hard rockin' "A Croak and a Grunt in the Night"). Of course, Trevor went on to join YES and helped them record the two biggest albums of their career (90125 and Big Generator). Duncan became the lead singer for the Rollers after Les McKeown left and recorded the last and hardest rockin albums of the Rollers career (Elevator, Ricochet, and Voxx). Take a chance, buy the CD, and enjoy one of the best pop/rock albums of the 1970's.

...and a zest for the music they're creating help make this collection of early Ladysmith Black Mambazo worth hearing, even by a new introductee to their sound. The story of Joseph Shabalala's faith is interesting to know and lends weight to the music we're hearing, but even if you haven't heard any of this music in the past, it remains vibrant and beautiful, a worthwhile new addition to any xenophile's CD collection.

A friend in S. Africa sent me this CD. I don't care for jazz; in fact I'm a classical fan. But this CD won me over instantly. It begins with Gumboot Dance, a Xhosa game song for children, and a mood lifter for anyone. It progresses through more African traditional music (some instrumental, some with Zulu or Xhosa lyrics) to some modern-sounding jazzlike vibraphone stuff. This is perfect music to listen to, dance to, write a doctoral dissertation to, or just enjoy!

I'm an avid African Music collector from the Soul Brothers to the Lion of Africa Mhalathini and The Mahotella Queens and everything else in between. But, as I listened for the first time to this group, I couldn't help, but feel hooked by the dueling guitar that played and danced above the others notes carrying you on their rythmic movements and transplanted to a time of struggle and rich creative juices that produced "Julieta". This tune exemplifies and reaffirm my review. A Must Have!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I done read the editor's review. I don't know nuthin about them 'rolling stones' but FARAFINA is some of the best music I have ever heard. I ponder their magic and how they do it.

The design of their lyrics for rhythm values is a big part of it. This is no cascade of African drumming folk exhibition. This is Upper Volta ROCK (unplugged). Sounds Wild, like "something coming from the other side of those trees!" Incredibly beautiful singing.

If hearing this music does not make you feel livelier and happier, then you need to go to a doctor, 'cause there is something bad wrong with you, cuz.

I done read the editor's review. I don't know nuthin about them 'rolling stones' but FARAFINA is some of the best music I have ever heard. I ponder their magic and how they do it.

The design of their lyrics for rhythm values is a big part of it. This is no cascade of African drumming folk exhibition. This is Upper Volta ROCK (unplugged). Sounds Wild, like "something coming from the other side of those trees!" Incredibly beautiful singing.

If hearing this music does not make you feel livelier and happier, then you need to go to a doctor, 'cause there is something bad wrong with you, cuz.

This is the best single collection I've found of the songs spanning Johnny Clegg's long career. It's affordable if bought used (i.e., not at Amazon, sorry guys). For Clegg fanatics, it's worth it to add another version of these songs to your collection - all of them energetic and well-played. For newcomers, it's worth it to get an easy introduction to why you might want to become a fanatic. Having been converted, though, it's worth tracking down the original albums. None of these live versions do any sort of disservice to the original song, but very few are actually better (in my view) - "Dela," for example, loses a good deal of its original subtlety in this live setting, at least. (That said, it settles in beautifully between "Tatazela" and "December African Rain.") Also, the mix between songs is a little abrupt - like the mix tapes you made in college, the applause just cuts off, then starts again.

But buy this album - then buy the rest.

Technically, this is the best recording of Johnny Clegg's music that is available. This is a live recording at the Nelson Mandella Theater and is beautifully engineered. In addition, Johnny's voice has taken on a confidently mature sound that is not heard on many of his other recordings.

Johnny Clegg's music is an amazing amalgam of different musical styles combiing Zulu singing, rock, reggae, and jazz. It is shocking that he is so little known in the USA and his music is never played on popular radio. He is an international star as witnessed by the huge crowd at a concert in Paris, which is featured on his Live DVD.

This CD contains performances and arrangements by the band members who comprise the Johnny Clegg Band that just finished touring in the US in Spring and Summer 2004. With two veterans of the Savuka days (Andy Innes and Mandisa Dlanga) and the new talent Johnny has recruited for this band, the musicianship is superb, the arrangements are new and lively and in a few cases even better than the originals. The liner notes explain that this is a live recording of performances made at the Nelson Theatre in Johannesburg called "A South African Story." Tens (hundreds?) of thousands of South Africans have attended these concerts over the past few years. If you saw the band in the US in Spring or Summer 2004 and want to listen to the sound you heard, this is the CD to buy. If you already know Clegg's music, this is an excellent way to get updated on a master musician's newest phase. Hopefully it will be released domestically and will be a little less expensive, but it is still worth every penny!