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The music is unmistakeably South African (and specifically Zulu), but its tough and rootsy grooves, plentiful hooks and amazing economy give it a broad appeal, and it still sounds fresh today. Few of these 20 tracks make it over three minutes, during which the musicians hit the ground running, kick arse and disappear in a heartbeat. Three-minute heroes, indeed.
The most successful mbaqanga act of the time was the wonderful Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens. They’re represented here by four tracks, though the group’s name varies according to the producer, record company and associated musicians, which is a little confusing. Both Umkhovu and Nomacala were also featured on the fine Earthworks profile of Mahlathini called King of the Groaners (1993), and the two other songs are fairly average examples of their music.
Happily, there’s plenty of less-familiar material that makes this more worthwhile. Melotone Sisters with Amaqala Band seem to have a male singer, very much in the ‘groaner’ vocal style popularised by Mahlathini. Lucky Strike Sisters’ Mr J.S. Mpanza features a brilliantly theatrical dialogue in the middle, and perhaps the most infectious cut is Sikhwele, by Aba-Lilizeli, which sounds like it was mastered from some crusty but very tasty vinyl. Soul Chakari, 10 To 11 and ‘Iza Wena’ Happy Africa are the best of a handful of lovely, warm instrumentals which fade out all too quickly.
The sleeve notes by David B. Coplan do a good job of explaining the cultural contexts and the precursors of mbaqanga, but are disappointingly sketchy on biographical information for most of the artists actually on the disc. As if to underline this, the small print acknowledges that not all the owners of the master rights have yet been traced. Get in touch, guys. Yebo, they owe you! --Jon Lusk
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
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Customer Reviews
Standouts for me are:
S. Piliso & His Super Seven's "Kuya Hanjwa" which (improbably) has a guitar sound like something from early 1980s Orange Juice. (Maybe Dennis Bovell had been listening to some of this stuff and had passed on the knowledge?). Outstanding stuff.
African Swingsters "Emuva" - there's nothing particularly striking or unique about this instrumental, it's just one of those tunes that has a legendary quality about it. Bass, drums, sax, and some brilliantly played guitar.
Melotone Sisters/ Amaqola Band "I Sivenoe" - one male vocalist with a female group vocal interacting. The guitar on this track is amazing. The intro could be something off of The Velvet Underground & Nico. Who knows, maybe along with Bovell the V.U. were fans of the Mbaqanga sound too?
A great compilation. The track selectors have easily managed to convey their knowledge and love of the music without the compilation ever getting worthy but dull or accidentally switching on a 'world music' radio show.
UPDATE: Next volume covering township soul-funk-psych circa 69-76 set to drop May, 10, 2010.
I strongly urge you to at least download one track--seriously, any track, they are all great--from this CD and listen to it. IF you love it (and i Think you must) buy the whole CD, it is all as good as that random track you downloaded--and that will be the beginning of you odyssey into African music, one of the richest traditions in modern electrical music, and you will be forever grateful for that lousy 99 cents you spent on that single download
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