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by Staff Benda Bilili

Overview

Staff Benda Bilili rightly made a splash with their first album and the tale behind it. The question was, though, how much depth did they have to sustain a career? On the basis of this sophomore release, the answer is plenty. There's a new drummer and lead guitarist, and the return of their percussionist, as well as a greater sharing of the vocal duties. Plenty of touring has turned them into a very tight band, even more so than before, and one that's less afraid to let go -- "Bilanga" is virtually African rock, while that and "Tangi I Fueni" show new guitarist Amalphi to be a real find, and quite Hendrix-influenced. Recorded in a real studio this time, rather than the Kinshasa zoo, it builds on their earlier work, with some sophisticated songwriting and music that springs out of, but isn't too beholden to, Congolese rhumba. All the pieces here slot together beautifully, and using more voices creates more complex layers of vocals that only add to the pieces. Everything that made them special is still here, and there are plenty of little idiosyncracies (as on the intro to "Kuluna"). But they've shown that they're the musical equals of any band on the planet. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	09/04/2012
Label:	CRAMMED DISC US
UPC:	0876623006565

Tracks

1. Osali Mabe
2. Sopeka
3. Bilanga
4. Tangu I Fueni
5. Kuluna/Gangs
6. Djambula
7. Libala Ya Mungwa
8. Souci
9. Apandjokwetu
10. Ne Me Quitte Pas
11. Mutu Esalaka (The Brains Are Ok)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Staff Benda Bilili   Primary Artist
Coco Yakala Ngambali   Vocals,Guitar
Djunana Tanga-Suele   Vocals
Theo Nsituvuidi   Guitar,Vocals
Kabamba Kabose Kasungo   Vocals
Roger Landu   Vocals
Montana Kinunu Ntunu   Drums,Guitar,Vocals
Amalphy Ketikila Masamba   Guitar
Paulin "Cavalier" Kiara-Maigi   Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Randy Makana Kalambayi   Percussion
Leon-Ricky Likabu Makodu   Vocals

Technical Credits

Hanna Gorjaczkowska   Art Direction
Alan Ward   Mastering
Coco Yakala Ngambali   Composer
Christophe Macpherson   Photography
Guillaume Carpentier   Engineer
Michel Winter   Management,Executive Producer
Marc Hollander   Mixing,Post Production
Vincent Kenis   Mixing,Arranger,Engineer,Producer,Instrumentation
Staff Benda Bilili   Arranger,Composer
Theo Nsituvuidi   Composer
Kabamba Kabose Kasungo   Composer
Renaud Barrett   Artwork
Ewing Sima   Engineer
Montana Kinunu Ntunu   Composer
Jean-Paul Kyss   Engineer
Paulin "Cavalier" Kiara-Maigi   Arranger,Composer
Leon-Ricky Likabu Makodu   Leader,Composer
Pinoce Bidenda   Engineer