Nonesuch Explorer Series / Zimbabwe: the African Mbira: E
Album: Zimbabwe: the African Mbira: E   Collection:World
Artist:Nonesuch Explorer Series   Added:Sep 2003
Label:Nonesuch Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2003-10-13 Pull Date: 2003-12-15 Charts: Reggae/World
Week Ending: Nov 16 Nov 2 Oct 26
Airplays: 1 1 1

Recent Airplay
1. Nov 08, 2014: Music Casserole
Tipe Tizwe
4. Dec 23, 2003: radiomundi
Gumbukumbu
2. Sep 05, 2006: At the Cafe Bohemian
Kana Ndoda Kuramba Murume
5. Nov 10, 2003: told ya so!
Gumbukumbu
3. Jan 27, 2004: Baptism of Solitude (Best of 2003 non-heavy)
Kana Ndoda Kuramba Murume
6. Oct 28, 2003: At the Cafe Bohemian
Urombo

Album Review
Decca
Reviewed 2003-09-30
From 1971. Shona music that uses repetition as a way of establishing predictability between performer & audience. Changes & variations are added slowly & allowed to grow. This CD focuses on repetitive mbira patterns & vocal melodies that evolve into something almost hypnotic. Read the notes, then just listen…it grows on you. Wonderful!

*1. Vocals get increasingly more interesting w/layers of mbira & shaker carrying the piece. It’s really good.
2. A song about teasing. Male vox & chorus, shaker, mbira. The mbira is a bright note in this fairly happy song.
*3. In this song about misery, the vocals wail almost in the background to shaker & mbira. It’s very powerful, but lovely.
*4. Bright & driving w/wonderful vocal interplays. Layers of sound working together in a simple yet fascinating way.
5. Starts simple then the vocals pick up while the mbira holds the basic rhythm. Later the vocals get quite unpredictable & free.
6. Sweet & subtle vocals, strings/shakers. Eventually the vocals get freer and more strident.

9/2003

Track Listing
1. Kana Ndoda Kuramba Murume   4. Gumbukumbu
2. Tipe Tizwe   5. Ndini Baba
3. Misordzi   6. Urombo