CDs of the week:
House Afrika: Mzansi House
House of T Bose: Volume 2
Glen Lewis: Sgubu sa Mamapela
Three new local albums feature the handiwork of some of our best DJs and producers.
House Afrika’s Mzansi House is an important album because it contributes to a growing body of work of locally produced house music. This double album is a clash of the heavyweights. The first CD contains work from DJs Fresh, Oskido and Vinni da Vinci, all deep-house pioneers. They are joined by DJ Vetkuk and the Revolution twins. But, the compilation amounts to nothing more than a dance-floor warmer and never gets out of first gear. It is the second CD, with Da Vinci’s partner Tim White, Mbuso, Glen Lewis, Cleo and Ganyani, among others, that raises the pulse menacingly with tracks such as Fire and Sunshine. Get it and preserve an important piece of history of house music.
From Gallo comes House of T Bose I. Metro FM DJ Thabo ”T Bose” Mokwele claims he was taught mixing by his former Yfm colleague DJ Fresh in less than two hours. Well, he has learnt a lot and the second instalment of his House of T Bose is testimony to that. Collaborations with beat masters such as Mahoota, Cleo and Revolution lift this album and T Bose’s willingness to experiment with roots and commercial sounds give the album a distinct flavour. The standout effort is without a doubt Ke Thupa Fela with Revolution.
Also from Gallo is Glen Lewis’s Sgubu sa Mamapela, which has a clever marketing ploy linking it to the relaunch of SABC1. But it is a gimmick it could have done without. Lewis is regarded as a mid-tempo maestro and while there are traces that style, he also adds a different dimension to his set with a more upbeat feel. Disappointingly, the album does not have a natural anchor track. But Glenzo still has it.
Tori Amos: Tales of a Librarian (Gallo)
A librarian with tales like these to tell would have so much more than the archetypal hair in a bun and pursed lips. It’s a definitive look at Amos’s career, a showcase of soul-searching, remixed and reconditioned, ranging from something old (all her hits are here) to something new, as well as the Professional Widow dance mix, which momentarily upsets the album’s languid mood. Oh, and there’s a handy guide to the Dewey decimal system included. — Riaan Wolmarans
Bosson: Rockstar (ASP)
A modern-day Modern Talking, here Bosson and Bosson’s falsetto form a lovely boy band. It’s artificial, flavour-of-the-hour, sugary pop all the way, less catchy than the usual Swedish export and a far cry from the aspiration of the album title. — RW
Danny K: J23 (Gallo)
If there was any culture of celebrity in this country Danny K would be as big as Justin Timberlake. He has the songs of any of the world’s ”kings of pop”, with Latin and hip-hop elements peppering a really slick, solid commercial album that offers more than a handful of singles. He certainly has more talent than most — he not only has a hand in writing all his songs, but plays instruments and co-mixes on all his tracks. It’s probably best that he seems to be concentrating on making it overseas (the only song on the album that has any ”local flavour” is Who’s That Girl, featuring Johnny Clegg). Good luck, Danny K, you’re hot! — Michelle Matthews
Fokofpolisiekar: As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand (Bowline)
Here’s an interesting contribution: rowdy Afrikaans punk-rock. ”Luister kliphard! [Listen at high volume],” reads the sticker on the CD case, and indeed this is wild enough seriously to damage the speakers. Apart from the fact that it’s in Afrikaans (with pithy lyrics), their sound is not all that original in the world of punk-rock, but for a glimpse at the true madness at work here, skip to the hidden tracks at the end of the CD … crazy stuff, indeed. — RW
Brett Jackson: Deeper Sound of Brett Jackson (USM)
Jackson’s easy, laid-back house beats, ranging from deliciously deep to tribal, place him among the best of the current crop of Jo’burg DJs and producers. On The Deeper Sound of Brett Jackson he craftily mixes a soulful, stylish and sexy collection of tracks including Alexander East’s great No More, his own Nocturnal Sight (featuring Orion) as well as tracks by Grant Dell and Richie Littler. If you’re into stimulating dance music that’s more than just party fodder, look no further. — RW
Kid Fonque: Saladomundo (USM)
Another showcase of local mixing talent: here is our answer to the famous Café del Mar, with experienced Gauteng DJ Kid Fonque smartly and capably mixing up jazzy, lightweight tunes. It’s lounge, injected with a stimulating, sensual dash of exotic samba and bossa nova beats. Slide it into the CD player as the sun sets and break out the cocktails. — RW
Stephanie Kirkham: That Girl (Virgin)
Stephanie Kirkham has everything a good folk girl should have: a slightly unusual throaty, voice; long, sweetly disordered strawberry blonde hair and lyrics about cats. She even has the melodies. The fact that she doesn’t play an instrument is an important, but not detrimental, drawback. Is Kirkham the next Suzanne Vega? Who knows? But her debut album is a cut above your average music for 17-year-old girls to read Sylvia Plath and smoke beedies to. — MM