Customer Reviews

Hera Ma Nono

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Extra Golden, a band that is a collaboration between American and Kenyan musicians, suffered a potentially devastating setback when its lead-singer succumbed to cancer after its debut album. His brother stepped in and kept the band alive, and hence the road was paved for their second album.

"Hera Ma Nono" (8 tracks; 58 min. ) brings a quasi non-stop and irresistible dance party, based on the delightful interplay of indie-rock and Kenyan music rhythms. The first two tracks of the album set the tone, each going about 9 min. each, "JackoLando" and "Obama" (more on the latter one). The dance party is stopped only a couple of times on a couple of short, slower songs, but generally, it's danceable grooves all the way, check out the 11 min. blow-out "Love Hijackers" towards the end of the album.

I wouldn't have found out about these guys, but for my good fortune of catching them an all too brief 50 min. set recently here in Cincinnati (opening up for Film School), where they brought most of the tracks from "Hera Ma Nono". They got the biggest crowd reaction playing "Obama", explaining that the Illinois Senator (and now Presidential candidate) was instrumental in securing visas for the Kenya members of the band to come over and record this album. Their set was just fabulous, and if you have a chance to see this guys live, don't miss it. Meanwhile "Hera Ma Nono" (which I bought on the spot after seeing them live) is quite the treat.

This CD has everything for the lover of Afropop music. First let me say that this is a long CD, there is a lot of music here. The music is upbeat, high spirited and infectious. The guitar here really stands out, with great counter melodylines.