Long Walk to Freedom
For more than 30 years, South Africa's Ladysmith Black Mambazo has infused its township sound of Isicathamiya with rich gospel harmonies. LBM's unique sound was brought to American audiences thanks to Paul Simon's landmarkGraceland, and the group has toured and recorded tirelessly since.Long Walk To Freedomis a new retrospective in which the group rerecords new versions of songs from throughout its career with help from such guests as Emmylou Harris, Sarah McLachlan, Taj Mahal, and Zap Mama as well as several popular countrymen. As with the Simon album, the North American guests' voices fit hand-in-glove with the group's warm harmonies. Highlights include "Nomathemba," which was the band's first hit in 1973, the popular "Hello My Baby," and theGracelandtunes "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" and "Homeless." Though ostensibly a career retrospective, this new recording actually proves that Ladysmith Black Mambazo has never sounded better.--Tad Hendrickson