fakejazz.com

World music is often a misnomer. Granted it usually is music made somewhere in the world. However, despite its intention of providing something ethnic, it usually provides (at best) a fusion of Western pop and traditional styles or (at worst) Western pop sung with a different accent. Too often "world music" is entirely spoiled by the mere presence of a Western influence and lacking all authenticity. Konono Nr. 1 feels completely and utterly authentic. The mythology around this group from the Congo/Angola border precedes them, scavaging the streets for old car batteries and cannibalized metal and even wood to create their own sound systems, pick-ups, and microphones, electrifying their take on traditional Bazombo trance music. If anything, you wonder if the music can live up to the mythos and completely intense promotional video. And it does. The group uses three electric likembés (thumb piano) of different pitch, cowbells, whistles, hand drums, spare metal cymbols, and various other noisemakers to create a lively, ecstatic jam session that is just so completely filled with joy. Several members of the group chant the vocals in unison as the tenacious and unrelenting grooves propel the songs forward. The likembé has a tinny sound, but there's so much texture layered on top - endless percussive elements - that the sound is full and engaging.

Konono at Amazon & Insound