Zambia Roadside 2

SWP Records certainly can’t be accused of over¬exploiting their archive of field recordings; it was ten years ago that the first, excellent Zambia Roadside was released. In his liner notes, sound recordist Michael Baird credits President Kenneth Kaunda, and the people of Zambia, for the fact that the country is one of the few African nations to remain generally peaceful since achieving independence. The populace’s friendly outlook is reflected in the joyous and uplifting nature of the songs presented on Zambia Roadside 2.

This collection of 17 tracks only scratches the surface of Zambia’s many different cultures and corresponding musical diversity, but it presents a wide variety of rural musical styles nonetheless. Just one of the album’s many highlights features the Ngoma Roots Band, previously featured on the first Zambia Roadside and Zambush Volume 1. Their powerful track ‘Taiyaka’ features silimba xylophone (which places its keys on top of resonating gourds), with buzzing drum accompaniment, and proves reminiscent of neighbouring Zimbabwe’s Shona music. Some of the gospel vocals are equally impressive, particularly those from The Mazheri Singers, a Protestant choir with a raunchy drum rhythm and lively youthful voices. Elsewhere, there are tracks featuring a capella gospel, thumb piano, musical bow, flute, penny whistle and plenty of drums.‘You will come away happier after hearing this wonderfully honest music,’ promises the CD’s cover. It’s a promise that the music keeps.