Guiding Star

Vusi Mahlasela

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 6, 2007)
• Original Release Date: March 6, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: ATO Records
• ASIN: B000MMLPA0
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #45,821 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Vusi Mahlasela was born in 1965 and grew up in the Mamelodi township outside Pretoria, South Africa. He assembled his first guitars from discarded cooking-oil cans with wire strings, but his talent was so overwhelming that the novelist Nadine Gordimer arranged for the boy's formal music education. By the 1980s, his unrelenting courage in the face of government oppression became a factor in the downfall of apartheid. Often described as a folk singer, his music is indeed deeply rooted in Zulu traditions like mbube (a cappella vocals) and mbaqanga (township pop), but there are also touches of jazz (the local variety and from the USA), reggae, and plenty of judiciously applied Western mainstream quotes. For album number six, his second for Dave Matthews's ATO label, the dulcet-voiced singer-activist has brought on an impressive roster of guest stars. Matthews himself appears on track seven, "Sower of Words," and bows gracefully to Mahlasela's vision, as do, each in their own turn, Jem, Derek Trucks, Xavier Rudd, and--not surprisingly--Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Despite the high-octane sitters-in, a preponderance of English-language lyrics, and slick production values, the bandleader's guitar and voice remain the central focus of the mix, and thus the project succeeds brilliantly. Hit pick: a raucously sloppy, engagingly silly cover of Miriam Makeba's "Pata Pata." --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique star in the musical firmament, April 7, 2007

By	J. Hipps (Northern California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's hard to know where to begin when writing about Vusi Mahlasela and his music, simply because there is so much to the man's creativity. In his remarkable voice, one can hear both sensitivity and strength, playfulness and wisdom. Above all else, there is expressed an uncommon generosity of spirit. "Guiding Star" features music that is joyful, even when the lyrics are somewhat chilling, but it is always Vusi's spirit which shines through. This album is highly recommended, but best of all is seeing him in concert.

Oh, and if you're interested in his first three albums, your best bet is amazon.co.uk. There's a box set called "The Collection" with the albums "When You Come Back," "The Wisdom of Forgiveness," and "Silang Mabele." As of this writing, the price is about $27.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Epic CD, March 22, 2007

By	T. Camarota (Northern California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

New addition to my review, Dec 1st 2007 -

I got this CD on preorder and had it in my mailbox the day it came out, I wrote the first review about 2 weeks later and now looking back about a year later I have to add to it. This CD is just a classic, it's an epic CD, it's amazing. I'm still playing this CD at least 3 times a week. I can't believe I actually considered giving it only 4 stars. "Jabula" is still my favorite song, but I also love "Ntombe Mbali" and "Mighty River" almost as much and with their organ sounding effects. I love all the songs on it really. I also had the pleasure of seeing Vusi live this summer, and if you ever get the chance, don't miss him, I drove 3 hours to see the show, I would have bought a plane ticket if I had to.

Original review:

"Jabula" ranks up there close to "When You Come Back" as one of my favorite Vusi songs. He really got the South African sound in there, but I'm also really hearing a Celtic influence in the drumming, pretty amazing how he pulled it off, the best song I've heard released in 2007, and probably will remain that way. I also loved "Moleko" and it's rythm. "Chamber of Justice" is pretty cool, has a reggae sounding rhythm to it, definitely something you could throw into a either a reggae mix or African mix and it would fit right in with both.

Every song is masterfully crafted, Vusi and his guests are top notch performers. My only not 100% positive comment on this is that some of the songs get a little "Dave Mathewish" sounding, which is not a complaint, but I was hoping to hear more of the South African sound like I did on "Voice". While I gave it 5 stars, I was debating to give it 4 because of this, but I figured this was personal preference and shouldn't reflect the quality of the music which is well deserving of 5 stars.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shining Star, July 24, 2007

By	Amaranth "music fan" (Northern California) - See all my reviews

Vusi Mahlasela is known as "The Voice" in South Africa,but he's a masterful guitarist as well. Mahlasela has been busy lately-from touring in support of this album,to being part of Putumayo World Music's "Acoustic Africa" tour,and performing at the Johannesburg venue of Live Earth on 7/7/07. He's an electrifying singer. I first heard him on Putumayo's "Acoustic Africa",singing the lilting,lullabye-like "Basimyana."

His "Guiding Star" is a haunting collection of songs,many of them about the suffering under apartheid. His "Chamber of Justice" is a haunting reggae-styled song about the nature of good and evil. "Sower of Words",a touching duet with Dave Matthews,is a tribute to a South African poet who stood up to apartheid. Dave Matthews,whose voice usually grates cheese,provides a soft,thoughtful accompaniment. "Song for Thandi" is about a pregnant woman persecuted during apartheid who was nearly forced to kill herself--but chose life because of the life within her. There are deeply spiritual songs such as "River Jordan","Heaven in my Heart" and "Thula Mama." There are great collaborations with Derek Trucks&the Welsh singer-songwriter Jem.The bonus track,a cover of Miriam Makeba's "Pata Pata",is a joyous dance song that catches the spirit of the original. Warning:this song may cause toe-tapping.

As a whole,"Guiding Star" is a brilliant combination of electrifying acoustic guitar playing and powerful singing. Dave Matthews rightly compares Vusi Mahlasela to Neil Young,Bob Marley,Miles Davis&Marvin Gaye. The album is great music for great causes-a portion of the proceeds go to Nelson Mandela's HIV/AIDS global awareness campaign and Vusi Mahlasela's Music Development Foundation.

While this album is relatively mainstream,it's a perfect introduction to South African music.It complements Angelique Kidjo's "Djin Djin" and Putumayo's "Acoustic Africa." It could be called "Vusi Mahlasela:Unplugged." It's hardly overproduced;it's the guitar and The Voice-a perfect sonic pairing.