Masasu Band leader John Mulemena sings well and achieves a splendidly twangy guitar sound that propels the mantyantya, the particular dance flavor played by this band. Released in England, this album quickly went out of print. The band had a CD published a decade after this record, but little trace of it can be found. I suggest listening to this second Zambian offering on this site, and while it plays, search the ether sphere for somewhere to buy the band's CD .
P.S. This may be my last post for a short while. I have a family responsibility that takes me away from home and technology.
7 comments:
Thank You very much for another splendid album. I wish you all the best for you and your family.
Richard
Thanks for your kind words, Richard; they make it all worthwhile. Cheers,
Robert
Thank you for sharing this wonderful music. Apurva from Pune, India.
Thankyou for sharing this album - I think Jonah Moyo & Devera Ngwena band never got the international recognition they deserved - maybe it's not too late. I first heard the track 'Marondera' from this album many years (on Afropop Worldwide)and it's still one of the most playful and enjoyable African tunes I've ever heard. A great band on top form. So nice to hear the rest of the album is fantastic as well!! Thanks again - MamboPete
I just stumbled upon your blog. My mother randomly brought home this record for about 8 years ago when I was in high school. I think she picked it out because she liked the cover art and I was only jsut beginning to collect records with great Zambian guitarists.
It has since become one of my absolute favorites and I must have listened to both sides hundreds of times. There is something about putting on a record that just can't be captured by clicking on an mp3. I would love for more folks to experience this music, though!
Thanks again,
Sarah
I totally agree, Sarah: there is a great deal lost in experiencing music by clicking on an mp3. A record is a multidimensional piece of art that is stripped of so much when rendered into bits. I do think that the convenience of digital music cannot be denied, though, meaning that more people will hear it. The lossless digital transfers I keep for myself preserve, I think, much of the space in the music that is lost when recordings are re-mixed for digital releases (CDs or iTunes, etc.). If only I could distribute lossless rips, but I'm afraid my internet connection, or many of those visiting my site, are not up for 500 MB uploads/downloads! Still I try to offer the best sound I can.
By the way, my next post is another Zambian record, and you should check out an earlier post, Makishi Band, which is excellent.
Catching up with some of your Zambian posts, and enjoying this record at the moment. Maybe it's good rather than outstanding, but it's from *Zambia* which gains it several points in my book! And I love the cover scan complete with Sterns sticker - ah for the days when an LP cost £6.50!
(Ps for anyone confused by MamboPete's comment, that belongs on the *next* post which is, I have to say, outstanding by *any* standards not just because it's Zambian :-) )
Thanks for these and so many other great records to enjoy!!
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