From Kinshasa

Spin - "[T]he range of intensity encompassing both the lackadaisical Hawaiian ragtime of 'Coco Blues' and the frenetic seizure 'Nganshe' is startling." NME (Magazine) - "[T]his joyous carnival of sound is underpinned with a throbbing electronic heartbeat. It may be titled FROM KINSHASA, but this record could easily be from the future." Clash (Magazine) - "While familair touchstones remain in place, they are thouroughly eroded and inverted by Doctor L's production adding subtle, and not so subtle, layers of noise and distortion along with a throbbing bass presense and post punk reverb."

Congolese group Mbongwana Star was founded by former members of Staff Benda Bilili, a band centered around paraplegic street musicians from Kinshasa. While that band plays a buoyant, highly danceable variation on traditional soukous, sometimes incorporating reggae and R&B elements, and their debut album consisted of cleanly produced live performances, Mbongwana is a different beast altogether. Working in the studio with Dublin-born producer and musician Liam Farrell (Doctor L), who previously drummed in bands like Les Rita Mitsouko and worked with Tony Allen in the short-lived group Psyco on da Bus, Mbongwana Star created a dense, heavy studio production filled with psychedelic effects and distorted field recordings from the groups native city. The album was originally supposed to be titled From Kinshasa to the Moon, like the name of the opening track, but due to a miscommunication with their label, it ended up being truncated to the more general From Kinshasa. Though the title is accurate, it undersells how expansive and otherworldly the groups music is; the atmospheric production and cosmic synth textures do make it seem like theyre beaming their music into outer space. "Nganshe" has a fast, skipping rhythm and spikes of treble-heavy guitars that slide in and out of the mix. "Masobele" is the albums most party-ready funk jam, with layers of rough distortion countered by smooth guitar licks and sweet, searching vocals. "Malukayi" features the unmistakable electrified metal percussion of Kinshasa legends Konono No. 1, who greatly enhance the slightly hazy midtempo groove. "Suzanna" is the albums boisterous highlight, however, with a monstrous electronic beat steamrolling the dancefloor and joyous vocals calling across the world. Closing tune "1 Million CEst Quoi?" is the most polished and precise selection on the album, but its still funky and trippy. Mbongwana Star is easily one of the most futuristic groups associated with the Congotronics or Tradi-Modern scene, and their debut is a timeless, boundaryless experience. ~ Paul Simpson

圧倒的な破壊力を持つサウンドで世界中を熱狂させたコンゴのスタッフ・ベンダ・ビリリ。その元メンバー2人が、フランスのエレクトロ/ヒップホップ・シーンで活躍し、トニー・アレンのプロデュースなども手掛けるドクターLや、地元の若手ミュージシャンと共に新バンドを結成した。目の前の障害物すべてをなぎ倒すかのようなぶっといグルーヴに、スペイシーなギターが不気味かつキラキラと飛び交うなか、強い怒りと深い憂鬱を湛えたヴォーカルが魂を揺さぶってくる。強烈にパンクでサイケデリックなその楽曲群は、ヤバイ匂いがプンプン。キンシャサのストリート・ミュージックとエレクトロニック・サウンドが融合した、サイコーにクールな新レベル・ミュージック!!
bounce (C)ダイサク・ジョビン