This is what Tumi and his band of brothers known as The Volume achieve with their debut full-length disc recorded, as the title suggests, at the Bassline in Johannesburg. Committed to tape on Wednesday November 20 2002, it took the prudence of independent record label Ready Rolled (Tribe, Cape Town 2am) to make that evening’s magic into a commercial commodity for all to enjoy.
Minimal and chilling Tumi unravels each track with spoken word and clean and concentrated zeal. From the opening track, Yvonne, he locks the listener in with his East Coast twang and metronomic pace while unpacking a chilling tale of a rape delivered with as much fervour as repulsion.
Playing in his home town with his band in tow — as well as respected additions in Marcus Wyatt on Four and up-and-coming vocal sensation Pebbles — Tumi makes this album a must for all who are keen to latch on to what is set to soon become sought after. The latter diva adds melody to People of the Light and 76, a retelling of the 1976 Soweto riots through whipping words juxtaposed by warm harmony.
His voice is his medium, and his knack and aptitude to string and hold down four minutes plus of adrenaline-fuelled rhymes separate this young man and his crew from the crowd. Each track locks down words in tight succession, each holding their own against sparse guitar, violin, drums and bass. With prayers (Celebration), tales of love (She Spirit Fancies) and the sad reality of those who pound the streets in the name of prostitution (The Story Behind the Paint), urban energy has never sounded this good.
Wendy Oldfield: Holy Water (SAfm/Value Music)
This experienced South African singer and songwriter returns with an album that is instantly likeable. From the guitar licks on opening track Life (a celebration of life, like “angel bliss”) and the bluesy mellow flavour of Holy Water to the sweet balladry of Touch Your Skin, the upbeat playfulness of Heaven, and the two fascinating mixes of Sun and Holy Water that are appended, it’s all smooth sailing under clear skies — no doubt also due to the great supporting cast, including Concord Nkabinde on bass. Oldfield comments on life and love without getting too serious, remaining more formidable than, say, Nianell. And her deep, flowing voice is much easier on the ear than the warblings of Wess-Lee or Candice. — Riaan Wolmarans
Various: Night Tracks Volume 2 (Gallo)
Janis Ian flies too high, Christopher Cross rides like the wind, Chris Rea is a fool for thinking it’s over and Linda Ronstadt hurts so bad on a compilation that sounds like a mellow late-night radio show on a classics station. — RW
Various: Homebru (Sting)
A commendable compilation for South African Music Week from 94.7 Highveld Stereo, the station that loves killing hits through overplay. Here is a highly enjoyable selection of 20 local pop-rock hits, a showcase of crafty songwriting that includes Tree 63, Mean Mr Mustard (Buttercup, of course), Tait, Prime Circle’s great Hello Hello, Justin Berg’s superbly sentimental Out of My Hands and Grannysmith — and, sadly, Dawnay’s catchy-trashy U Touch Me. — RW