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From Kinshasa

When I heard the track 'Malukayi' on Don Letts' radio show in 2015 I had to find out more about it - which wasn't immediately straightforward as the track had been mis-labelled on the playlist and was still, at that point, very new. Not much later I'd gathered it was the work of the Congolese group Mbongwana Star, whose debut album (and so far their only one) was released in May of that year. I ordered a CD copy.

"Tired of pre-conceptions around African music, Mbongwana Star are creating their own identity, fusing traditional Congolese rhythms with post punk and electronics inspired by life in the townships around them, 'making magic out garbage.'" So a promotional blurb at the time explained their music. The masterminds behing the project were singer-songwriters Coco Ngambali & Théo Nzonza (formerly part of the band Staff Benda Bilili), and Irish-born, Paris-based produder Liam Farrell, aka "Doctor L".

Aside from the mesmerizing 'Malukayi' (which features distorted, amplified mbira, courtesy of guests Konono No. 1), the highlights, to my ear, include 'Shégué', 'Nganshe' and 'Kala'. All the musicianship is excellent, but Cubain Kabeya's outstanding drumming merits special mention. The lyrics are in Lingala. The CD is packaged in a fold-out 12-panel sleeve adorned with some eye-catching artwork.

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