Konono N°1
Why didn't I buy this group's first official CD way back when it was a Record Of The Week at Aquarius Records? I don't know, but I'm truly disappointed with myself. This legendary con glean group's music is incredibly infectious. By now, their story is quite renowned throughout the world among fans of weird and original music. Konono N°1 are from the suburbs of Kinshasa in the Congo, they play traditional african trance music using three different likembés (thumb pianos - played by hit small metal rods attached to a resonating chamber) and percussion. What makes them so peculiar however is how they attain their sound. Everything is homemade, all percussion is made with kitchen material and used car parts, as is the amplifying equipment. This is what creates the distorted sounds we get to hear throughout the record. Although this was not wanted at first, it's the reason this music sounds so out-of-this world in the first place.
It took a few years before finally actually listening to some of their work. I don't remember why exactly but me and a friend got around to talking about african music and I suggested Konono N°1. I had only heard some samples and found it interesting, but when I got to my friends place, she had downloaded a few songs and we wound up listening to it all evening and wow, immediately I was drawn into a trance and couldn't help myself from tapping my feet to the repetitive beat and enjoying the bizarre, distorted melodies. I couldn't get it out of my head for the next couple of days and quickly went to find myself a copy the moment I was off work. It's been in my stereo on a regular basis ever since.
CongotronicsLabel: Crammed Discs Release: 2004 Format: CD Cat. no: CRAW 27 |
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