Customer Reviews

Bel Canto: Best of the Genidia Years (Congo Classics 1982-1987)

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This is a gorgeous collection of some of the finest African pop ever recorded, combining the otherworldly, angelic voice of Congolese singer M'bilia Bel with the buoyant, cheerful rhythms of her then-husband, bandleader Tabu Ley Rocherau. Want your life to be full of lightness, melody and good cheer? Pick up this fab 2-CD set and fall in love with one of the biggest stars in modern African pop. Beautiful music! (DJ Joe Sixpack, Slipcue music reviews)

I just had to break down and write my first review after coming across this compilation! Mbilia Bel has a luscious, creamy voice that floats along over propulsive, poly-rhythmic dance music. I fell in love with her and this sound in the late 1980s and am happy to hear from these slightly muddy samples that a good half of these tunes are not included on the four or five CDs of hers from that period that I managed to turn up every now and again in the pre-internet era. I don't understand a word of the lyrics, but the joyful vibe is utterly irresistible. This is going right into the shopping cart. Do stop and listen, and enjoy.

Also: Stern's distributes a huge selection of amazing African and world music. If you've been despairing to hear new and worthwhile sounds, do check them out!