Congo – Pygmy Polyphonies from North Congo

This is a stunning collection of one of the world’s most extraordinary vocal expressions: yeli, the polyphonic yodeling from the African rainforest region of northern Congo. Most of the music on this album is performed without instrumental accompaniment, with only metronomic hand-clapping backing up the voice. Multiple voices performing as if they were melodically and rhythmically independent of each other is what creates the striking polyphonic choral effect. Performed under the steaming, eerie, forest canopy, the complex vocal combinations range from delicately fragile and beautiful, to an aurally challenging onslaught. Additionally there are fine examples of Pygmy instrumental music: the musical mouth-bow, traditionally and symbolically linked to the hunter; thumb piano; papaya-stalk flute; and percussion. One particularly engaging short piece titled simply ‘Water Play’ is a universally enjoyed percussion exchange between mothers and children whilst bathing. Hands, elbows and forearms move in and out of the water producing rhythmic aqueous undertones that are accompanied by singing. We’ve all done it – but perhaps not to such charming effect.

It’s the singing that really stands out on this album. If you’ve enjoyed the Pygmy vocals of the Baka tribe on the fantastic albums of the group Baka Beyond, then you’ll be fascinated to hear similar vocals recorded in situ and without the adornment of Western instrumentation. The CD comes with a French and English language booklet that helps understand some of the intriguing complexities of polyphonic vocals and explains the cultural significance of the song content.