African Pearls: Pont Sur le Congo

The title of this double compilation refers to the imaginary bridge connecting the two capitals of the neighbouring Central African countries both known as Congo (Peoples’ Republic and Democratic Republic). Brazzaville, lying on one side of the mighty River Congo, and Kinshasa, lying on the other, were thriving musical centres in the 60s and 70s when the songs on this album were recorded. It’s a representative collection of popular Congolese music of the time: the golden rumba of Franco and Tabu Ley; and the spiky ‘youth music’ of Zaïko Langa Langa and Empire Bakuba. Where it triumphs is in exposing some of the less internationally known groups of the period, many of whom were produced by Verckys Kiamuangana. The saxophonist had been a member of Franco’s OK Jazz until his dismissal for making some clandestine recordings. The subsequent launch of his own band, Orchestre Veve, and the building of his own studio allowed him to establish Editions Veve, the most successful and notorious production house in Congo Kinshasa (Zaire). Many of the groups recorded by Verckys are featured: Kiam, Soki Vangu & Bella-Bella, Trio Madjesi and Lipua-Lipua all bear the influence of the Veve studio. The new wave of Zaire was epitomised by the multiple looped and amped-up guitars of Zaïko, and by the vocal pyrotechnics Empire Bakuba’s Pepe Kalle, and good examples of both can be heard here. However, the other groups are equally significant and equally outrageous. They all have their own variation on how Congolese traditional folkloric roots can be ripped apart and reassembled with the help of electric guitars, raspy horn sections, and some James Brown-inspired vocals cutting through the typically seductive Lingala-language harmonies. Slightly more old-school inclusions come courtesy of OK Jazz, Tabu Ley and contemporaries of theirs such as Docteur Nico’s African Fiesta, Grands Maquisards and Trio Cepakos of Brazzaville’s celebrated Bantous. Less well-known names offer equally exciting examples of the more refined Congo rumba style.