My first reaction to this album was almost disgust! Key word being almost..
I mean after the debut album literally swept us all off our feet..some of those feet landed us in bed severally. (if you know what I mean!) To follow that up with this was a bit disappointing to say the very least. We all knew that matching up to their first album which was a real classic in every sense of the word,was always going to be a tough ask..not this tough though!
I couldn't get through the first 5 songs on my very first listen. Though Mbinguni wasn't bad,I just hit the foward button to 'Coming Home' then 'Soma kijana' after that,I picked their first album and sang along to every note just to soothe my ears!
It was not that bad,production quality was at the very tip top! But doing almost a whole album in Luhya..and whatever other language that was...Really? It's good to get in touch with your roots..but once you get that touch please get back to the branches and leaves...After comparing notes with my friends the next day...I realised that they agreed with me,though they kinda liked it. One was a Luhya who couldn't speak the language..I guess to him it was amusing to hear something familiar on such gracious composition. The other was a Luo...he just likes smooth sissy stuff it doesn't matter if he has no idea what is being said. That was my biggest beef,I did not get what they were singing. So assuming that I was a bit harsh..I gave it another listen,this time only to number 5! I just couldn't..wtf is Awinja?
I spend the rest of the week...maybe month trying to get past 7 tracks excluding the obvious. It was average,re doing tracks and all. I finally listened to the whole thing without touching the 'fwd' nor 'next' button. Once,Twice..and a bit more,was this the same album? Then they went on tour somewhere in Austin,Texas. They rocked it to pieces..I have evidence,njungus were singing to lazizi like they knew what it meant.
Right then it hit me..I don't have to understand what they are saying,I just have to flow with it. How else do I listen to Lingala? Music is much more than the actual words...its more how the words intertwine with the melody..its the harmony.
So I listened to it again with this new mind set...and Oh my Khosh!! Wonderful..I was singing along.. With this new found mind set..this album is awesome. A 7/10..though listening to 'Awinja' by sauti sol and lets say...'Windeck' by cabo snoop has no difference to me since I don't get what either means...I listen for the music..and I like it!
If you haven't listened to sol filosofia,by now where have you been? Firstly this album is a grower..if you are anything like me,it wont get to you immediately..give it time!
Now to what has hit many of us by utter surprise! Let me put this into perspective..a few years ago when I was in high school (No scrap that..) many years ago when I was in high school,reggae music was associated with thieves,crooks in short 'wanati' there never was a reggae concert that did not end in disaster.They attracted a certain crowd. Reggae was mostly confined to schools and this was considered a stage in life when one was most rebelious i.e Form 2 through to 4,which one was to pass by..Swiftly and get back to their senses.
Out here I remember my big brother telling me that Reggae music is for failures,excluding his best friend as the only successful individual who listens to reggae.
Now you get it right? Fast forward to today. Reggae is still here,but a softer version of the same,rather a more danceable version has come up! (And no moving a step forward then two back is not dancing!) Dance hall! And oh my...it has taken over,every club you step into, Westlands to Githurai,every matatu you board,every radio station you tune into heck there's even a radio station dedicated to this genre of music.
I remember when it started,I was upto date with the latest ridims..oh unfinished business..mara cardiac bass ohh ohh oohhh. Then I dont know what happened to me,I lost track or rather I was overwhelmed. They are producing ridims faster than kenchic take to make fries,and everyone wants a piece of the action. And I mean EVERYONE..I have a 'rockstar' who has turned absolutely to dancehall music,she knows every ridim fresh out of jamaica,with very weird names...Red bull and Guiness to stress free and everything in between yes even Hot milk!
Am not complaining,I love reggae music am just astonished at the rate it has changed,these days dancehall concerts end in a different type of disaster..cc Rdx! And they attract a wide range of followers,cutting across all social and economical boundaries...it's good to see!
Kwaheri!
