Document: Zimbabwe

1. Cookin' With Mr. Green T. Mususa

2. Sayiqansa Intaba (Don't Be Left Behind)

3. Sayiqansa Intaba (We Have Ascended the Hill)

4. Taxi Barkers, Harare

5. Huku Ineronda (Chicken With a Wound)

6. Mr. Green Speaks

7. Mahororo (Summer Bird Migration)

8. Harare Street Parade

9. Izimbongo Zako Mabhena (Praises to My Ancestors)

10. Storm Coming

11. Samu Nyathi Plays Banjo

12. Cherry Yekwazulu (Girls of Dreams from Zululand)

13. Tsvaru (You Deserve It)

14. Mr. Green Plays Sadza Handidyi Ndeda (I Don't Want Sadza, I Want to Be

15. Chinyambera (Masvingo Hunters Dance)

16. Rembrant Kids

17. Rugare Tange Nhamo (Work Like a Slave to Live Like a King)

18. Inyoni Amakhosi (Song for Village Chief to Show Respect)

19. Commander

Tracks:

Cookin' With Mr. Green T. Mususa
Sayiqansa Intaba (Don't Be Left Behind)
Sayiqansa Intaba (We Have Ascended the Hill)
Taxi Barkers, Harare
Huku Ineronda (Chicken With a Wound)
Mr. Green Speaks
Mahororo (Summer Bird Migration)
Harare Street Parade
Izimbongo Zako Mabhena (Praises to My Ancestors)
Storm Coming
Samu Nyathi Plays Banjo
Cherry Yekwazulu (Girls of Dreams from Zululand)
Tsvaru (You Deserve It)
Mr. Green Plays Sadza Handidyi Ndeda (I Don't Want Sadza, I Want to Be
Chinyambera (Masvingo Hunters Dance)
Rembrant Kids
Rugare Tange Nhamo (Work Like a Slave to Live Like a King)
Inyoni Amakhosi (Song for Village Chief to Show Respect)
Commander

Customer Reviews:

Amazing & Frustrating Eclectic Field Rec' (Music & Envi.).......2003-06-06

Tchad Blake (producer for Bonnie Raitt & various world music artists) has created an interesting aural (not solely music) snapshot of a trip across Zimbabwe in 1994. Using fascinating technology (binaural recording) he explored the environment, recording events in stereo with a small microphone in each ear. This sounds best on headphones where the separation between ears is greatest/most natural.

Expecting primarily musical documentation, I was disappointed somewhat by the dearth of musical tracks. The environmental/ambience tracks are interesting, but warrant only one listening- I find myself skipping them now. There are really only 7 tracks (of 19) worthy of repeated listening.

Sound quality is inconsistent- even within songs (especially regarding volume & clarity) perhaps due to what direction Tchad was facing. Also- many musical tracks are frustratingly short (cut-off mid song)- interrupting the groove & your enjoyment (hit the repeat button!).

Having said that- the good 7 are wonderfully interesting, diverse, raw, real local performances and likely unlike anything you've heard outside of Zimbabwe! Liner notes are disorganized and lack deep information (designed to look like a doodled-on travel journal). Recommended for serious lovers of Africa & African music (keeping track to price ratio in mind).

The BEST tracks :
2/3**-Shona acapella singing (like Ladysmith Black Mambazo), 5** lovely Chimurenga band (like Thomas Mapfumo), 14. **Traditional jaw harp & vocals, 15.** Hunters drum dance at music festival, 18.** Trad. praise song to chief (echoey hall), 19. **Electric Afropop band in bar (12/8- like heavy Chimurenga)

The REST:
1-Kitchen cooking sounds, 4. City taxi drivers beckoning customers, 6. Discussion about a band, 7. Bland mbira (thumb piano) playing (with vocal melody) band from previous track, 8. Western style parade marching band (slight African lilt), 9. Poetry read in echoey hall (in Shona?), 10/11. Sounds of an approaching storm (with added banjo/harp player #11), 12. Mediocre band- swing/50's rock/township mixed style, 13. City street sounds with Max Mapfumo (Thomas' brother)'s music playing on a distant radio), 16. Kids in an apartment building, 17. Difficult to hear Shona acapella singing (like Ladysmith Black Mambazo)

An interesting first recording in a binaural series from WOMAD.

Pop Music:

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