• 
  KG Omulo: Ayah Ye!: Moving Train
  
  A synergy of funk, rock, reggae and traditional African sounds from this inventive, young singer/songwriter.
• 
  Various Artists: Chief Boima Presents: Lone Stars - Hipco and Gbema
  
  
• 
  Mamadou Diabaté: Courage
  
  Mamadou Diabate, the kora master, takes a fresh look at Mali instrumental music with his new CD Courage.
• 
  Various Artists: The Kankobela of the Batonga, Vol. 2
  
  Mysterious melodies from a disappearing thumb piano tradition of Southern Africa.
• 
  Kiran Ahluwalia: Aam Zameen: Common Ground
  
  Indo-Canadian Songwriter Combines Folk Poetry with African Rock, Jazz and more
• 
  M.anifest: Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America
  
  
• 
  Sona Jobarteh: FASIYA
  
  West African female kora virtuoso releases an album full of grace, warmth, and passion.
• 
  Sia Tolno: My Life
  
  Kissi singer releases a strong second album full of pop-infused star power over songs of strife and triumph.
• 
  Zieti: Zemelewa
  
  Eclectic blend of Afro-infused pop out of Cote d'Ivoire.
• 
  Guelewar: Halleli N Dakarou
  
  Re-released and remastered live CD from this 80's experimental Senegambian outfit.
• 
  Tinariwen: Tassili
  
  Touareg desert legends return with an offering that is meandering, sorrowful and proud.
• 
  Los Rakas: Chancletas y Camisetas Bordada
  
  Oakland/Panamanian rappers -call it "Panabay"-- return with good results.
• 
  Cheikh Lo: Jamm
  
  The unique Senegalese singer and multi-instrumentalist crafts an eclectically excellent record.
• 
  David Rudder: Random Notes
  
  Calypsonian David Rudder returns with an album that covers various styles with excellent results.

All Reviews >>

Afropop fans often observe that the Congolese capitals of Kinshasa and Brazaville have produced more than enough grizzled and semi-grizzled musical veterans to fuel spinoffs of the Buena Vista Social Club concept. As in Cuba, gentle and elegant pop music has evolved into a popular, more aggressive sound that has all but buried the past. But the musicians are there, waiting to revive the classic era, and that's just what the seven members of Kékélé offer here, a recreation of the classic Congolese rumba sound that moved the dance floors of Africa in the 1950s and 60s.

Unfortunately, the budget here doesn't allow for the sort of crystalline production you'll find on BVSC releases, but the sound is a decided improvement on 1960s Kinshasa recordings. Guitarists Papa Noël and Syran Mbenza serve up tasty acoustic guitar meshes throughout, and Viviane Arnoux's accordion work is a big plus on many of these tracks. Accordion was used in early Congo music, but it soon got sidelined by horns and guitars. Horns here play solos rather than section parts, again harking back to the early small-band Congo sound, and there are no trap drums--only hand percussion.

Singers are the real stars here, though. Nyboma's angelic voice makes two of the best tracks--"Dido" and "Gina"--while Bumba Massa's huskier voice recalls the feeling of the great Franco, especially on the unusual minor key song "Kaka Ngai." Some songs stick to the Cuban son montuno groove, while others foreshadow later Congo music's shift from a slower rumba to a mid-tempo section with harmonized vocals--quite gorgeous here given the all-star lineup of singers. Near the end, the medley "Success Ya Grand Kalle" packs together a cluster of Joseph Kabasele--Grand Kalle--tunes, culminating in the immortal "Jamais Kolongo."

Guitar heads may long for some more extended instrumental breaks. Noël and Mbenza play beautifully but rarely venture into free play. Still in all, this is a very sweet session, and a welcome addition to the small but growing catalogue of acoustic Congo music recordings.
Contributed by Banning Eyre for www.afropop.org