HENRY BELL is fascinated by the underlying curiosities and contradictions of one of the great poets of the Mediterranean
Montparnasse Musique
Archaeology
(Real World)
★★★★
THIS marvellous debut album is the creation of Algerian-French producer/DJ Nadjib and South African House DJ Aero Manyelo, who met by chance in the Montparnasse–Bienvenue metro station in Paris.
Lucky us. A self-consciously Pan-African set, the music ranges far and wide over the continent, focusing on the music of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Which makes sense – it was recorded in France and Belgium with a group of talented Congolese musicians.
Mixing dance, electronica, rock, trance, techno and a whole host of other genres I don’t really know about, it sounds absolutely amazing. Badarou is particularly special, a big, open-hearted track that brings to mind the best work of Johnny Clegg and Savuka.
STEVE JOHNSON, CHRIS SEARLE and TONY BURKE review new releases from Steve Knightley, Jupiter & Okwess, Jason Palmer, Lisa Knapp and Gerry Driver, Kin'Gongolo Kiniata, Ingrid Laubrock/Tom Rainey, Dan Sealey, Simin Tande, PAZ



