Imphilo

Even though Swaziland has been renamed Eswatini, Bholoja – real name Mbongiseni Ngubane – remains the king of ‘Swazi Soul’, the title he gave to both his first two albums. Imphilo is his first release since 2015’s Swazi Soul II and like its predecessors is a smooth and tender set of African troubadourisms, like a Siswati Cat Stevens – ‘Mkhulu Longakimi’ is even a setting of ‘The Lord is My Shepherd’ in the style of Stevens’ ‘Morning Has Broken’. The spine of the songs was recorded in a studio in Mbabane, the Eswanti capital, featuring just Bholoja’s voice and acoustic guitar. Producer David Felgeirolles then added overdubs between Mbabane and Paris and far from ruining the simplicity of Bholoja’s stripped-down single takes he’s done a superbly sympathetic job. From the chiming Mark Knopfler-like guitar on the seven-minute opener ‘Socalile’ to the ethereal string quartet on ‘Kusele Kancane’ via the hurdy-gurdy on ‘Sitayicela Ivutsiwe’ and Wally Badarou’s inventive keyboards on ‘Touch from Heaven’ the arrangements have a gorgeous, gossamer-like quality, while Bholoja’s voice ranges from a soulful Youssou N’Dour falsetto to a relaxed baritone. African music is often made for dancing, swaying and feet-shuffling. With its gentle introspection this is a record that heads straight for the heart instead.