Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
hypnotic blend of old and new, 14 Aug 2008
The third in the 'Congotronics' series, this album is produced by what is effectively a collective of some 25 members of other African bands.
The nine pieces weld mainly traditional instruments, some amplified, to electric guitar and authentic group vocals to create a mesmerising texture which, although highly rhythmic, contains multiple layers of instrumentation which your ears can explore as they wish.
The sounds of the thumb pianos and various other local instruments are completely unique and yet if you're unfamiliar with them can sound similar to more modern instruments - they give the music a kind of modern lo-fi feel which, far from off-putting, adds to making the sound contemporary but still traditional - if that makes any sense.
I've read one or two reviews that imply that the more distorted instrumentation can jar with the more traditional elements, but i simply didn't pick up on that at all - the music maintains a steady level and real ambience. It might be a horrible cliche, but the overall effect is to take you firmly away from wherever you are to an African village somewhere, and completely spellbinding.
I'm completely bowled over by some of the highly ambient world music that's around now (another, though stylistically different, example is the Tuareg group Tartit, whose album 'Abacabok' is well worth checking out).
So if you've an interest either in African/world music, or lo-fi experimentation/electronica, i'd strongly recommend this album.
And if that's not a good enough reason, surely you HAVE to buy an album that has a title like that?!
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sublime Masterpiece, 16 Sep 2009
Congotronics from Konono No 1 blossomed onto the music scene in 2005. The sounds were completely fresh for a Western music world overflowing with monotonously bland indie and dire bedroom laptop electronica. Was this the tragic end to raw talent in music or were listeners not looking far enough, it's a tough decision to make, but I'd wager the latter in this case.
Kaisai Allstars' who share the same ferociously energetic intensity as Konono No 1, unbelievably bizarre long title, In the 7th Moon, The Chief Turned Into a Swimming Fish and At the Head of His Enemy By Magic, is the third and arguably the best in the Congrotronics series. Crammed Discs have delivered this decade's most uniquely timeless album, the long title notwithstanding.
Beginning with an overbearing pounding rhythm to hold everything together including a twinkle clatter here and shimmering guitar lick there - it's a wholly joyous amalgamation of all the underground pulsating energy into music greats: Fela Kuti, Faust and Sun Ra; its energy and timelessness especially reminiscent of the German Krautrock scene in the 70's. Not for a single solitary second throughout the entire song, or in fact the entire album does this energy give up. It travels through light and dark and at its more quieter moments, like on the title track serves a short contemplation. The flow is absolutely astounding and unlike any other musical force bestowed onto our Western ears. Like a voodoo ritual deep in the hottest African environment - sparse streets - no trees, only rocks, stones and a group of black musicians - speaking and singing in their own language. Which while not understanding the lyrics is a slight downside to fully enjoying the music within - it only adds to its mysterious voodoo-like entity, offering a sublime hour and 10 minutes of spellbinding music.
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~ Various Artists
~ Konono Number One
~ Staff Benda Bilili
~ Amadou & Mariam
~ Mulatu Astatqe
