VARIOUS ARTISTS
"PULSE OF AFRICA"
JUNE 22, 2004
62:02
1 El Hadj Ensemble - Wo Mawu 03:26
2 Ipeleng Group & African Works - Ngungu 02:54
3 El Hadj & African Works - Eboka 02:57
4 El Hadj Ensemble - Basoga Lusoga 03:55
5 El Hadj Ensemble - Mala 02:29
6 El Hadj Ensemble - Soului 03:21
7 African Works - Gboko Lia Yayari Kpamo 03:00
8 Soweto Ensemble & African Works - Nxai 03:20
9 Ipeleng Group - Unwabu 03:43
10 Soweto Ensemble - Baba 04:55
11 African Works - Zima Gaza Koo 03:38
12 El Hadj Ensemble - Kekebu 02:54
13 Tirani Club - Domba 05:34
14 El Hadj Ensemble & African Works - Yolo Male 03:23
15 African Works - Mabo 02:51
16 El Hadj Ensemble - Eshe Eyele 03:19
17 African Works - Zanga 02:35
18 Soweto Ensemble - Ibhungane 03:37
REVIEW
by Adam Greenberg/AMG
An interesting concept album from the folks at ARC. Pulse of Africa focuses on drumming traditions of the continent, as many albums do, but there's a catch. Here, they not only focus on drumming, but do so to the point of exclusion of all vocals and other non-percussion instruments (marimbas are occasionally used, but sparingly). The works are completely stripped down from any full musical context and only the beat itself is left. On rare occasions, a small flute takes the place of the vocal lines, but in general it's left to the drums alone. This can work well to highlight the complexity of a number of styles (à la Master Drummers of Burundi), but at the same time it can set the album up for a fall, if the pieces chosen generally have more complexity to them, and the drums are largely the backing portions. This seems to be the case for a number of works here. As such, the album is somewhat interesting in its own right, but isn't the most energetic or even necessarily the most listenable of the multitude of African drumming albums on the market. For those who enjoy rarities, incidentally, it does include a couple of interesting works on a Zulu friction drum and a seldom-heard Venda drum.
"PULSE OF AFRICA"
JUNE 22, 2004
62:02
1 El Hadj Ensemble - Wo Mawu 03:26
2 Ipeleng Group & African Works - Ngungu 02:54
3 El Hadj & African Works - Eboka 02:57
4 El Hadj Ensemble - Basoga Lusoga 03:55
5 El Hadj Ensemble - Mala 02:29
6 El Hadj Ensemble - Soului 03:21
7 African Works - Gboko Lia Yayari Kpamo 03:00
8 Soweto Ensemble & African Works - Nxai 03:20
9 Ipeleng Group - Unwabu 03:43
10 Soweto Ensemble - Baba 04:55
11 African Works - Zima Gaza Koo 03:38
12 El Hadj Ensemble - Kekebu 02:54
13 Tirani Club - Domba 05:34
14 El Hadj Ensemble & African Works - Yolo Male 03:23
15 African Works - Mabo 02:51
16 El Hadj Ensemble - Eshe Eyele 03:19
17 African Works - Zanga 02:35
18 Soweto Ensemble - Ibhungane 03:37
REVIEW
by Adam Greenberg/AMG
An interesting concept album from the folks at ARC. Pulse of Africa focuses on drumming traditions of the continent, as many albums do, but there's a catch. Here, they not only focus on drumming, but do so to the point of exclusion of all vocals and other non-percussion instruments (marimbas are occasionally used, but sparingly). The works are completely stripped down from any full musical context and only the beat itself is left. On rare occasions, a small flute takes the place of the vocal lines, but in general it's left to the drums alone. This can work well to highlight the complexity of a number of styles (à la Master Drummers of Burundi), but at the same time it can set the album up for a fall, if the pieces chosen generally have more complexity to them, and the drums are largely the backing portions. This seems to be the case for a number of works here. As such, the album is somewhat interesting in its own right, but isn't the most energetic or even necessarily the most listenable of the multitude of African drumming albums on the market. For those who enjoy rarities, incidentally, it does include a couple of interesting works on a Zulu friction drum and a seldom-heard Venda drum.
