I have been getting some newer music lately. I had been disappointed with a lot of new Congolese music because the guitar sebene (dance segment at the end of the song) had been replaced by extended vocal parts and virtually eliminated except in a few cases where it was allowed to creep in for a few seconds at the very end. The songs have also become disjointed mash-ups of varying rhythms that seldom seem flow comfortably from one to the next within a particular song.
To my happy surprise, some of the newest CDs I've heard have begun to have longer, more cohesive sebenes. Although many of these now have less inspired vocal parts, I am encouraged that new era of music may be on its way, hopefully leading to a renaissance of music that draws more from the odemba masters than from the trend-setters of the last few years.
Today's program features a few of these new discs and some very nice older music as well, but most tunes come from around 1998-2002.
I hope that you'll enjoy the program and let me know what you would like to hear next time!
Download with track list:
https://www.hightail.com/download/bXBZb254ZEtoMlZjR05Vag
This program and many more:
http://www.radio4all.net/index.php?op=result&action=series&series=Ambiance%20Congo&nav=&
PART A
1) G.O. Malebo
FIANCEE LAYLA
from the 45 RPM single
Ets. Phenix
2) Pepe Kalle & Empire Bakuba
DADOU 2e VERSION
from the LP SOUCIS YA LIKINGA
Bade Stars Music
3) Le Bombadier Ya M'Pouela du Pool et son Canon en Furie!
MIREILLE, SEUL MOI QUI PEUT TE SUPPORTER
from the LP TOI POR MOI, MOI POUR TOI
K’Dance
4) Franco et le T.P. O.K
Jazz
KABONGO
from the LP A 0 HEURE CHEZ 1-2-3
Edipop Production
5) Benz Petrole
PROPHESIE feat. Elba Top A
from the CD BYE BYE
Benz Petrole Production
6) Modogo Gian Franco Ferre et l'Orchestre Viva la Musica
BA PLAYS
from the CD STATUE DE LA LIBERTE
Bienvenue Dola Production
7) King Kester Emeneya & Victoria Eleison Dream Team
Dream Band
MAOUSSO
from the CD LONGUE HISTOIRE 1
Calbass Productions
PART B
8) JB M'Piana & Wenge B.C.B.G
WALAY-DANICO
from the CD TH: TOUJOURS HUMBLE
Simon Music-SIPE
9) Solbaka Le Professeur
ALERTE JEUNESSE I
from the CD COME BACK
Solbaka production
11) Roga Roga & Extra Musica
NINA OK
from the CD CONTINTIEUX
Ibrok’s Production
11) Ben Nyamabo & Choc Stars
TABLIER
from the CD EPAKA MASASI CODE 007
Eprodis production
12) Zaiko Langa-Langa
MUKAJI
from the CD AVIS DE RECHERCHE
Sterns Africa
13)Malage de Lugendo & Choc Langa-Langa
ELANGA EKOHI PENE
from the CD APOCALYPSE
Jacko Productions
14) Youlou Mabiala, Josky Kiambukuta & Santa Soleil
MAMILE
from the CD DONA BEIJA
Sonia Production
*=by request
Your introduction gives us hope. I look forward to good new Congolese music. Thanks for compiling and anchoring the show. Downloading the file now. Apurva from Pune, India.
ReplyDeleteOnce again a hugely enjoyable show, David, many thanks.
ReplyDeleteThere does seem to have been a steady stream of listenable CDs out in the last couple of years. Probably nothing that you'd call a modern classic, although one or two have been exceptionally good, like Wazekwa's "I Love You" - can't fault anything on that one.
As for less inspired vocal parts; it's fair to say that artists like Solbaka sure aren't going to win any singing competitions, but there's something endearingly and entertainingly "old school" about the songs and performances on his CD. But polished it definitely isn't.
Anyway, not being able to sing very well needn't necessarily be an obstacle to turning out a great CD - look at Desi Mbwese's wonderful "Benediction" CD. What a scorcher that was.
By the way, I thought that Le Bombadier Ya M'Pouela du Pool track was magnificent. Don't suppose anyone will ever surpass stuff like that, more's the pity.
Dave, du Pool's album is pretty good, but then again it's an Eddy Gustave production. Gustave, a saxophonist from Guadeloupe, produced many albums featuring Congolese, mostly from Brazza, and Centrafrican artists. I love these albums a lot. du Pool's album is one of the few that he produced that is so very strongly influenced by OK Jazz. Great album. Glad that you enjoyed the track!
ReplyDeleteHello David
ReplyDeleteThanks for your beautiful show. Lately I saw This on YouTube, FABULOUS!!
LE STUKAS DE LITA BEMBO LIBECK AU MEILLEUR DE SA FORME EN 1976 54'29
Maybe you've seen it already, but if not..
Greetings, keep up the good work!
Bert Boogaard,Rotterdam
Helloi David, Have you seen this on YouTube? LE STUKAS DE LITA BEMBO LIBECK AU MEILLEUR DE SA FORME EN 1976 54'29
ReplyDeleteFabulous!!
Greetings!
Bert
Yes I have seen it, Bert. I have the DVD.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment!