If someone were to describe to you a group that made their instruments primarily out of salvaged materials, had been around for nearly 50 years, was likely to blow the festival circuit apart, and make one of the best – and well-received – albums of recent times, you’d have a right to be somewhat sceptical. If you are that sceptic, then you’ve obviously yet to hear Konono No 1, here with their follow-up to the huge “Congotronics”. Hailing from the Democratic Republic of Congo, they manage to turn scrap metal and obsolete car parts into thumb pianos and drums, which – combined with electric guitars and drums – create a magical brew like little else. They draw largely on the traditional African music, Bazombo trance, for their style and repertoire, allowing the electronic distortion from the scrap material to add to and heighten the overall sound, creating this multi-faceted, flowing electronic style that naturally elevates your mood and seems to hark back to a sound much older than anything you could imagine. Producer Vincent Kenis has created another masterpiece, easily weaving the guest vocalists and musicians into the overall backdrop, leaving you yearning for it to never end. Trance music completely redefined. Awesome.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Darren Wall
