Marrabenta is the music of Mozambique, originally the sound of the underclass, but now very much of the nation as a whole. Low-key and joyful, it's a little like the palm wine music of West Africa, laid-back and welcoming, acoustic and friendly. Even at its most extroverted, with a full band, as on "Eliza We" and "Mode Xicavalo," it doesn't manage more than a lope; this definitely isn't music for galloping, but for the warm afternoons and evenings. Yinguica kicks off with Bernard Honwana, one of marrabenta's giants -- his father also played the style -- on a gentle, lulling piece, "Vou Morrer Assim'," and only very slowly moves up through the gears. The relaxed ambience, right down to conversation, laughter, and the clink of beer bottles, makes it a homegrown pleasure that's worth any number of listenings, both to take it in and to create an instant soft party atmosphere as background. ~ Chris Nickson|
Rovi