Mbongwana Star- From Kinshasa Review

Mbongwana Star
From Kinshasa
Nonesuch Records

You’re probably not going to hear anything as unique as this release from the Congo. Mbongwana Star is a 6 piece band that define their style as “space afro punk rock electro”. As hard as this may be to believe the group does a successful job pinning all these sounds together not just on the album, but on each and every individual song on their debut album “From Kinshasa”. Although this is the groups’ debut album the creative fuel comes from a couple of 50 year old veteran musicians, Coco Ngambali and Theo Nsituvuidi, who employed four younger musicians to create their unique and genre pushing work. 

The tracks on “From Kinshasa” seem to incorporate a number of influences such as trip-hop, afro-beat, and funk as well as “space afro punk rock electro” they describe their music as on their Facebook. These are songs you can either dance to or find yourself drifting through space alongside. Whether the vocals are being sung or used in a spoken word style the beats are unrelenting. The driving traditional African drum rhythms keep the album grounded while the guitars and synths try to transport the listener to a Congolese nightclub that somehow found itself among the Jovian planets. Another African rhythm tradition the Congolese collective incorporates is shout and response technique. The chanting which is done primarily in Lingala along with the drums are the only indicators of this being an African project. The instrumentals sound like electronic music that could have came from anywhere making this project live up to the “World” genre that is being applied to it. The songs have depth and layers to them that are reminiscent of DJ Shadow yet have powerful driving danceable rhythms that would make Fela Kuti groove. The lone ballad “Coco Blues” does a nice job relaxing the releasing the listener from the rhythm and shows Mbongwana Star can make more than just dance tracks. The lead single “Malukayi” is a cohesive track that shows just how fun a Mbongwana Star track can be. Filled with plenty of electronic noise and catchy repetitive ethereal sounds, this track displays how Mbongwana Star can create an atmosphere and keep you trapped there for six minutes without ever sounding stale. 

This album has one of the most contemporary sounds of any record I have heard thrown into the “World” genre. If you’re looking for a foreign and unique experience this album has enough pop and catchy melodies to keep any listener entertained. This is a truly fresh and unique piece of work that should keep you heading back for more listens because of the depth of the void Mbongwana Star creates.

7/10

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Tom K.
5/25/2015