Name: Metamorphosis
Brand: Compas Records
SKU: 971917
Availability: OutOfStock

Metamorphosis

Rating

Album: Metamorphosis
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Midi Pass‚ (Past Noon)
2)	Mwana Congo (Children of the Congo)
3)	Dur Dur (Harsh Harsh)
4)	Tchidiba (Forgetfulness)
5)	To Tuna (Let's Ask)
6)	Mo Mambu (That Is Trouble)
7)	Butch‚ (When Is Light Going to Come?)
8)	Ta Longana (Let's Understand Each Other)
9)	Mi Mvuka (Community)
10)	Mbemba (Eagle)
11)	Yebisa (Let Me Know If I'm in Your Thoughts)

Album: Metamorphosis
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Midi Pass‚ (Past Noon)
2)	Mwana Congo (Children of the Congo)
3)	Dur Dur (Harsh Harsh)
4)	Tchidiba (Forgetfulness)
5)	To Tuna (Let's Ask)
6)	Mo Mambu (That Is Trouble)
7)	Butch‚ (When Is Light Going to Come?)
8)	Ta Longana (Let's Understand Each Other)
9)	Mi Mvuka (Community)
10)	Mbemba (Eagle)
11)	Yebisa (Let Me Know If I'm in Your Thoughts)

Performer Notes

Personnel: Samba Ngo (vocals, guitar, kalimba, background vocals); Danjuma Adamu (guitar); John Gove (trombone); Steve Carter (keyboards, programming); Chris Miller (drums); Titos Sompa (congas); Kenneth Nash (percussion); Paula Mayembo, Katy Stephan, Julie Stepool, Linda Tillery (background vocals).
Recording information: Audio Sounds, Santa Cruz, CA; Seaside Digital, Santa Cruz, CA; Skyline Studios, Oakland, CA.
Photographers: David Hildebrand; Paul Schraub.
Arranger: Samba Ngo.
Here is presented a release from a masterful Congolese guitarist. Samba Ngo manages to mix the traditional sounds of the Congo, the uber-dominant soukous sounds, and the more urban, slicker sounds of contemporary Afro-pop in a collection of songs with a stunning overall effect. The lyrical topics are split largely between political calls to action and love songs. Ngo works equally well in Congolese and French, switching back and forth from song to song. His guitar work is slick, and his kalimba work is exceptional. Perhaps not quite at the level of, say Stella Chiweshe, but masterful nonetheless. Anyone interested in what could happen in a fusion of the various stages of Congolese popular music would find this album a blessing. Those already firmly established and acquainted with the genres might also find this a worthwhile listen for its execution alone. ~ Adam Greenberg