The latest in the ‘Congotronics’ series, ‘Beware The Fetish’ promises 100 minutes of trance music – which of course refers to the state it leaves you in, rather than stabbing synthesizer riffs. No, this is very different, the Kinshasa band Kasai Allstars drawing their music from festive and ritual music that transcends culture, tradition and language. The great thing about this music though is that you can enjoy it purely on face value, regardless of its origin. The intricate guitar lines, the propulsive bursts of rhythm, the quieter devotional asides and the full on whirls of instrumental activity are all part of the enjoyment. You can wonder at the musicians’ athletic feats as they play their instruments, but also lose yourself in the momentum of their music as it carries all before it. With this series Crammed Discs continue their valuable service of opening a window into parts of the world we don’t often get to experience musically – and ‘Beware The Fetish’, while maybe not as essential as the first release in the series from Konono no.1, is still extremely desirable.
5 out of 5
Reviewed By Ben Hogwood
