Customer Reviews

Sam Mangwana Sings Dino Vangu

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This new Sam Mangwana collection rates with the best of his career, and, in my opinion, with the best of Congolese pop music ever. If you enjoy soukous -- the swingy, guitar-driven style that evolved out of the Congolese version of the Cuban rumba -- you will love this album. If you are new to Central African music, this would be a good cd to cut your teeth on. The last decade or so has seen a leveling of the quality of soukous, with one group's sound, rhythms, lyrics nearly indistinguisable from another's, and a mindless techno-beat predominating; but this collection returns to the rumba roots of soukous, and to its graceful, lilting, melodic style. The singing of Sam Mangwana is as good as ever, and many of the songs, all written by Dino Vangu, former guitarist with Tabu Ley Rochereau, feature memorable melodies and excellent development, as well as the considerable guitar playing of Vangu. The fact that they are subtle does not prevent them from being great fun and very danceable. Whether you grew up listening to Le Grand Kalle, Franco, and Tabu Ley, or are interested in exploring a style you have not heard before, you will enjoy this music.

Not much more to say than already has... This album is remarkable. The singing is sublime and the rythms are masterful. I would say my only problem is the guitar effect used on a briliant guitar solo on track 2. It is too metalic. Other than that, this is one of my favorite Mangwanas.

On this recording, rumba congolaise legends Sam Mangwana and Dino Vangu join forces to bring the listener a lively collection of great songs of their genre. Mangwana's vocals are strong and full of life -- Vangu's songwriting well-crafted, and his guitar...if Congolese rumba has a trademark element, those ringing guitar riffs and rhythms are it. There is nothing that sound like it in any other form of music. Listening to it brings to my mind some classics of the form from years ago -- Daouda Tou Kone's timeless album LE SENTIMENTAL, Lea Lignanzi's DEDE PRESCILLA.

The songs, the musicianship, the tight harmonies, the pure emotion and joy of this album is infectious. There are no translations provided here (my only complaint, and a small one), and some of these songs could conceivably be sad -- but make no mistake about it, this album is a complete joy to experience.