Congo Life
Congolese pop is considerably more varied than many people realize, ranging from the classic two-part extravaganzas made famous by Franco and his contemporaries, to the relentless pace and shimmering, hummingbird-like guitar licks of "speed soukous." Kekele harks back to the former tradition, favoring a swinging, sexy slow burn, a deliberate yet inventive unfolding of theme and variation rather than a quick fix. But this does not mean that gratification is delayed; from the first note, the listener is seduced by percolating percussion, honeyed voices, and glorious guitars, augmented by accordion, woodwinds, and charanga-like fiddles. The tunes are as ardent, playful, and adult as the sultry Cuban grooves that originally inspired them. An unbeatable roster of veteran performers, now in mid-life, are empowered rather than imprisoned by their glorious past, having a ball as they weave eleven graceful, sophisticated old-time rumbas by hand for modern ears. Don't miss this one!--Christina Roden