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Various
Congo Funk! Sound Madness From The Shores Of The Mighty Congo River (Kinshasa/Brazzaville 1969-1982)
A1
Sungu Lubuka
7:50
A2
Mfuur Ma
5:00
A3
M.B.T's Sound
3:50
A4
Musique Tshiluba
3:15
B1
Lalia
5:00
B2
Adeito
6:45
B3
Ngantsie Soul
8:30
C1
Nganga
8:40
C2
Tembe Na Tembe Ya Nini
7:20
C3
Lolo Soulfire
3:35
D1
Femme Ne Pleure Pas
6:00
D2
Kiwita Kumunani
3:50
D3
Fiancée Laya
5:05
D4
Ah! Congo
3:20
Selected meticulously from around 2000 songs and boiled down to 14, Congo Funk showcases the many facets of the funky, hypnotic and schizophrenic tunes emanating from the two Congolese capitals nestled on the banks of the Congo River.
On its south shore, the city of Kinshasa – capital of Democratic Republic of the Congo, the country formerly known as Zaïre – is often seen as Africa’s musical Mecca, the city that spawned such immortal bands as African Jazz, O.K. Jazz and African Fiesta.
But the city of Brazzaville on the north shore of the river – capital of the Congo Republic – played an equally important role in spreading Congolese sounds continentally. In addition to producing legendary bands such as Les Bantous de la Capital, it was the powerful transmitters of Radio Brazzaville that allowed the unmistakable groove of Congolese Rumba.
Congolese music has been steadily evolving until the events surrounding the Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman boxing match marked a turning point, where the performance of James Brown on Zairian soil caused havoc among the younger generation, inspiring hundreds of would-be musicians to take up their electric guitars and reverbs cranked to the max in search of a new sound in which hyperactive Rumba was blended with elements of psych and funk.
These new sounds emerged at a time when the Congolese record industry – previously dominated by European major labels – was experiencing a period of decline due to rising production costs and needed a radical change. The void was filled by dozens of entrepreneurs willing to take chances on smaller scale releases. It was the beginning of a golden age for Congolese independent record labels, and the best of them – Cover N°1, Mondenge, Editions Moninga, Super Contact – preserved the work of some of the region’s finest artists, while launching a generation of younger musicians into the spotlight.
Congo Funk! is the story of these sounds and labels, but most of all it is the story of two cities, separated by water but united by an indestructible groove.