03/03/12

Yebo baf'wethu! You're at AFROSYNTH, the realest African selection . . .

This week we bring you pre-kwaito trendsetters YMAGE, power-pop from PURE MAGIC, jazz supergroup THE MEMBERS, DEBORAH FRASER's debut solo album and gospel from bubblegum growler SOX.

Last time we checked out Zambia's international disco queen ANNA MWALE, Shangaan girl group THE DALOM KIDS, solid funk from MELVYN MATTHEWS, crooner ZAYN ADAM and jazzman RATAU MIKE MAKHALEMELE.
Also be sure to download the latest mix - WINNER TAKES ALL - a hot soul stew of recent additions to the library.

Sharp!

UTHANDO - Sengithole I (New Love) / Muti Man (1984)

CTV/Roi/EMI, 12CT(C)63
Producer: Tom Mkhize   
Engineer: Philip Nel       
Recorded at: EMI Studio   


Synth-pop featuring unknown musicians and mystery mlungu frontwoman. Afrocentric but with a too-slick international flavour, like it was made with that audience in mind. B-side 'Muti Man' is on a similar outsider-looking-in tip, with lyrics like 'Oh sangoma, throw your bones tonight'.

Produced by Tom Mkhize, who a few years earlier had teamed up with Glen Storm to release the early crossover album Roots (Izimpande) under the name of African Image, a similar "studio group ... producing a laid-back, emotional blend of ethnic African rhythms and jazz" (Chilvers & Jasiukowicz, 1994:1). That album was somehow picked up by US-based avant garde jazz label Gramavision Records and re-released in the US in 1984 with a different cover. Mkhize also worked with Neville Nash and Sibusiso Mbatha (of Abangani).