Milimo

Niwel Tsumbu is certainly unique. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he ‘grew up on the rhythms of soukous music…before studying classical guitar.’ He has lived in Ireland for the past 20 years and has established a reputation as a very fine guitarist. He’s a member of Rhiannon Giddens’ band, which speaks for itself. But his debut solo album, Milimo, is original, technically brilliant and frustrating. Recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World studio with help from the house engineer Dom Shaw, the album is a fusion set performed entirely solo on nylon-stringed acoustic guitar, that echoes everything from jazz and folk-blues through to Western classical styles, flamenco and African styles. There are some impressive tracks on Milimo, particularly the gently atmospheric ‘Tirizah’ and the final jazz-edged ‘To Be Continued’, and he proves to have a good voice on the one non-instrumental and non-self-composed track, ‘Masta’. But on this showing he’s a far better instrumentalist than composer; It would help if he added more melodies to the displays of guitar wizardry.