Virunga Volcano

Last updated
Virunga Volcano
Virunga Volcano.jpg
Studio album by
Released1990
Genre Soukous [1]
Label Earthworks [2]
Virgin [3]
Producer Justus Musyoka Kasoya
Samba Mapangala chronology
Paris-Nairobi
(1990)
Virunga Volcano
(1990)
Feet on Fire
(1992)

Virunga Volcano is an album by the Congolese musician Samba Mapangala, released in 1990. [4] [5] He is credited with his band, Orchestre Virunga. [6] The album was first released, in Europe, in 1985. [7] "Malako" was a hit in Africa, and is regarded as a perennial classic. [2] [8] The album was a breakthrough for Mapangala, and led to steady international touring. [9]

Contents

Production

The album was produced by Justus Musyoka Kasoya. [9] The album's sound is marked by double saxophones and vocals in Lingala and Swahili. [10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [11]
Robert Christgau A− [12]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [9]

Robert Christgau wrote that "Virunga's snaky bass and nimble guitar come off as spaced and delicate as the falsetto leads Mapangala trades with Fataki, his only permanent sideman, and the twin saxophones are low-budget funky, their cheesy embouchure stuck between alto and soprano." [12] The Gazette determined that "there are delicious guitar and saxophone performances, undulating bass lines—and it's thoroughly absorbing, a silkier, jazzier sound than the modern rat-tat-tat of Zairean soukous"; the paper later labeled the album "a classic." [13] [14] The Herald-American called Virunga Volcano "electrified and funky, borrowing as much from Western pop as from Kenyan tradition." [15]

The Los Angeles Times noted that "the real ace in the hole is Mapangala's strategic use of horns for earthy, bluesy interjections—their mournful harmonizing is crucial in elevating 'Maloko' to genuine classic status." [7] In 2001, The Sunday Telegraph deemed Virunga Volcano "one of the great guitar discs in the history of African music, also blessed by Mapangala's warm vocals." [16]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Malako" 
2."Ahmed Sabit" 
3."Virunga" 
4."Yembele" 
5."Neliya" 
6."Mansita" 

Related Research Articles

<i>Djam Leelii</i> 1989 studio album by Baaba Maal

Djam Leelii is an album by the Senegalese musicians Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck, released in 1989. It was recorded in 1984. A 1998 reissue from Palm Records raised the number of tracks to twelve.

Samba Mapangala is a Congolese singer and bandleader who has been based in Kenya for most of his five-decade musical career, most notably there creating and leading Virunga, which has been one of the most popular bands in East Africa for more than 35 years.

<i>Beat the Border</i> 1993 studio album by Geoffrey Oryema

Beat the Border is the second album by the Ugandan musician Geoffrey Oryema, released in 1993. Oryema supported the album by playing the 1993 WOMAD Festival.

<i>Mistress Music</i> 1988 studio album by Burning Spear

Mistress Music is an album by the Jamaican musician Burning Spear, released in 1988 by Slash Records. It was produced by Burning Spear and Nelson Miller. Burning Spear supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Pocket City</i> 1992 studio album by Art Porter Jr.

Pocket City is the debut album by the American musician Art Porter Jr., released in 1992. Porter Jr. supported the album by touring with Lisa Stansfield. Pocket City made Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Greed</i> (Ambitious Lovers album) 1988 studio album by Ambitious Lovers

Greed is the second album by Ambitious Lovers, released in 1988 through Virgin Records. Naná Vasconcelos and John Zorn were among the album's many guest musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sila and the Afrofunk Experience</span>

Sila and the Afrofunk Experience is an Afrofunk band formed in 2003.

<i>The Spin</i> 1989 studio album by Yellowjackets

The Spin is an album by the American jazz band Yellowjackets, released in 1989. The album title refers to the Earth's rotation. The band supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>The Prophets</i> (Alpha Blondy album) 1989 studio album by Alpha Blondy

The Prophets is an album by the Ivorian musician Alpha Blondy, released in 1989. He is credited with his band, the Solar System. Blondy sang in French, Dioula, Arabic, and English.

Bopol Mansiamina, also known as Bopol or Don Paolo, was a prolific and renowned Congolese musician. He recorded and performed extensively over four decades as a solo artist, as a member of leading African bands, and in support of many African musicians. Bopol was best known for his work in the 1980s and early 1990s as one of the four members of the Paris-based supergroup Les Quatre Etoiles and as a solo artist.

<i>Set</i> (Youssou NDour album) 1990 studio album by Youssou NDour

Set is an album by the Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour, released in 1990. The album in part inspired the Senegalese youth movement Set-Setal, which sought to beautify Dakar.

<i>No Sant</i> 1996 studio album by Wasis Diop

No Sant is an album by the Senegalese musician Wasis Diop. It was released internationally in 1996.

<i>Funky Jibaro</i> 1988 studio album by Yomo Toro

Funky Jibaro is an album by the Puerto Rican musician Yomo Toro. Released in 1988, it was his first widely distributed album.

<i>A Ma Zone</i> 1999 studio album by Zap Mama

A Ma Zone is an album by the group Zap Mama, released in 1999. The group supported the album with a North American tour. The first single was "Rafiki".

<i>Victims</i> (Lucky Dube album) 1993 studio album by Lucky Dube

Victims is an album by the South African musician Lucky Dube, released in 1993. It has sold more than a million copies. Lucky Dube supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Galo Negro</i> 1998 studio album by Sam Mangwana

Galo Negro is an album by the Angolan Congolese musician Sam Mangwana, released in 1998. Mangwana deemed his sound "Congolese Rumba." Mangwana supported the album with a North American tour, accompanied by labelmate Ricardo Lemvo.

<i>Barrington</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Barrington Levy

Barrington is an album by the Jamaican musician Barrington Levy, released in 1993. It was regarded as a crossover attempt. The first single was "Murder". Levy supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Hot Heads</i> 1990 studio album by les Têtes Brulées

Hot Heads is an album by the Cameroonian band les Têtes Brulées, released in 1990. The band supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Soukous in Central Park</i> 1993 live album by Kanda Bongo Man

Soukous in Central Park is a live album by the Congolese musician Kanda Bongo Man, released in 1993. Kanda promoted the album with a North American tour.

<i>Man from Kinshasa</i> 1991 compilation album by Tabu Ley Rochereau

Man from Kinshasa is a compilation album by the Congolese musician Tabu Ley Rochereau. It was released in 1991. Rochereau supported the album with a North American tour.

References

  1. Riemenschneider, Chris (12 Sep 2008). "African". Austin American-Statesman. p. E6.
  2. 1 2 VanderKnyff, Rick (26 June 1996). "Out of Africa, Some Double-Time Dance Appeal". Los Angeles Times. p. F2.
  3. Gonzalez, Fernando (July 24, 1994). "An Afropop Sampler". Arts. Miami Herald. p. 41.
  4. Heim, Chris (10 Aug 1990). "Britain's Earthworks label...". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 10.
  5. Edmonds, Arlene (7 July 2009). "Samba Mapangala brings native songs to Perelman stage". The Philadelphia Tribune. pp. B6, B7.
  6. Trillo, Richard (July 25, 2002). Kenya. Rough Guides.
  7. 1 2 Snowden, Don (6 Jan 1991). "Cool Breezes Out of Africa". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 62.
  8. Timpane, John (7 July 2009). "Groovin' multiculturally". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Tribune Content Agency LLC.
  9. 1 2 3 MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 481.
  10. Barlow, Sean; Eyre, Banning (1995). Afropop!. Chartwell Books, Inc. p. 34.
  11. "Samba Mapangala, Samba Mapangala & Orchestre Virunga Virunga Volcano". AllMusic.
  12. 1 2 "Samba Mapangala & Orchestre Virunga". Robert Christgau.
  13. Feist, Daniel (6 Sep 1990). "Samba Mapangala & Orchestre Virunga Virunga Volcano". The Gazette. p. B6.
  14. Feist, Daniel (9 July 1993). "Virunga's Club Balattou show promises to be electrifying". The Gazette. p. C2.
  15. Bourke, Bryan G. (March 17, 1991). "International Rhythms Flavor Western Music". Herald-American. Stars. p. 26.
  16. Broughton, Simon (26 Aug 2001). "Sounds like Kenya". Travel. The Sunday Telegraph. p. 11.