Thursday, March 10, 2011

Comrade Chinx – Early Hits (1990)

Dickson Chingaira, whose stage name is Comrade Chinx, was a chimurenga singer during the struggle for liberation. After working with Andy Brown in the short-lived band Ilanga, Chinx began a solo career before entering the services of Robert Mugabe as a propaganda worker. Later years have not been so fortunate for the Comrade. His mansion was torn down in 2005, a story you can read about here, and according to this sad article from last year in The Standard, he is "is struggling to make ends meet."

From choral and chimurenga roots, Chinx evolved an unique sound, keyboard-driven chimurenga with a healthy dose of cheesy pop. Listening to this record, I can picture myself drinking beer in a shabeen among an audience of three. Early Hits does contain the fine, rocking song, Zvikomborero Kusimba, in both studio and live recordings, and it's worth the price of admission. The other Chinx album I have, Ngorimba, used to be found on the inimitable Global Groove site, but now there is a better dub on my site: here. That album has a much more traditional chimurenga sound than the one I offer today.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

for some reason I can not get this Chinx's Early Hits album. I will try it the next few days, hoping it will get through media fire. Can you please check from your side if this link still works.
Thank you

Richard

Rhythm Connection said...

hi richard,

I just tried the link and it worked fine. Hopefully you've tried again and succeeded.

thanks for visiting!
robert

alfredo said...

TREMENDA PAGINA AQUI ENCONTRE TEMAS
QUE JAMAS PENSE...MUCHISISISIMAS GRACIAS POR EL APORTE.
ALFREDO LES DICE.

Rhythm Connection said...

con mucho gusto te doy estos discos y cualquier información que tengo. gracias para visitarnos.
robert

Anonymous said...

The other Chinx album, Ngorimba is not available to listen on the Global Groove site. Is it possible that you can make it available on this site, PLEASE! Thank you very much for this album. Brilliant stuff!!!

Anonymous said...

Finding this has totally made my day. Big ups man!!!!