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Product Description
? Crucial recordings of Mbilia Bel, the queen of Congolese music and one of the most popular pan-African stars throughout the 1980s selected from Tabu Ley's 'Genidia' label by Gerald Seligman with additional notes by Ken Braun, these recordings represent an artist at the peak of her career. "Bel Canto is as much a retrospective of [Mbilia Bel] as it is of Afrisa in the 80s, when soukous had fully flourished,when increased production quality showed rhythms to bubble and crisp where before they'd only gently percolated....a smooth voice that flutters in upper ranges and croaks in lower, embodying its natural tensions. " Mike Powell Pitchfork "...a dynamic soprano voice that is powerful and feisty when handling upbeat material, and beautifully sweet and sensitive on slower ballads" Martin Sinnock Songlines Also for sale as digital download atemusic amazon uk amazon us itunes uk itunes us
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought this as a follow up to the excellent collection The Voice of Lightness by Tabu Ley Rochereau that's released on the same label. Mbilia Bel joined Tabu Ley's band Afrisa International in 1981 and this album covers the time that they were working together - they also married each other.
Oddly enough, many of the songs here sound more dated than the earlier work of Tabu Ley. This largely seems due to the introduction of more electronic instruments, particularly drum machines that now sound tinny and rather irritating. Of course this was common in a lot of eighties music generally, it's just a shame because Mbilia Bel has a wonderful voice and Tabu Ley continues to turn out some lovely melodies. I find myself skipping quite a few tracks, but there's still plenty of good stuff that makes it worth the price.
And like some of the music, the photo on the cover is very eighties - but not in a good way!
Oddly enough, many of the songs here sound more dated than the earlier work of Tabu Ley. This largely seems due to the introduction of more electronic instruments, particularly drum machines that now sound tinny and rather irritating. Of course this was common in a lot of eighties music generally, it's just a shame because Mbilia Bel has a wonderful voice and Tabu Ley continues to turn out some lovely melodies. I find myself skipping quite a few tracks, but there's still plenty of good stuff that makes it worth the price.
And like some of the music, the photo on the cover is very eighties - but not in a good way!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is absolutely perfect, over 2 and half hours of Tabu Ley Rochereau's magnificent songs/arrangements, backing pretty well the best female singer to come out of the Congo. Plus a superb booklet with photos, notes, and translations of each song. One of the best collections of Congolese music I've come across, five stars for each record and five more for the book. (Minus one for the cover photo, where I have to agree with the previous reviewer. Making fourteen in all.)
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Beautiful... just beautiful!
1 May 2008
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a gorgeous collection of some of the finest African pop ever recorded, combining the otherworldly, angelic voice of Congolese singer M'bilia Bel with the buoyant, cheerful rhythms of her then-husband, bandleader Tabu Ley Rocherau. Want your life to be full of lightness, melody and good cheer? Pick up this fab 2-CD set and fall in love with one of the biggest stars in modern African pop. Beautiful music! (DJ Joe Sixpack, Slipcue music reviews)
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
A delightful find
14 Feb 2008
Format:Audio CD
I just had to break down and write my first review after coming across this compilation! Mbilia Bel has a luscious, creamy voice that floats along over propulsive, poly-rhythmic dance music. I fell in love with her and this sound in the late 1980s and am happy to hear from these slightly muddy samples that a good half of these tunes are not included on the four or five CDs of hers from that period that I managed to turn up every now and again in the pre-internet era. I don't understand a word of the lyrics, but the joyful vibe is utterly irresistible. This is going right into the shopping cart. Do stop and listen, and enjoy.
Also: Stern's distributes a huge selection of amazing African and world music. If you've been despairing to hear new and worthwhile sounds, do check them out!
Also: Stern's distributes a huge selection of amazing African and world music. If you've been despairing to hear new and worthwhile sounds, do check them out!
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