COMPOSERS: Various
LABELS: Riverboat/World Music Network
PERFORMER: Mabulu
CATALOGUE NO: TUGCD 1024
Last year’s debut album from the Mozambican group MABULU brought together several generations to put a locally recorded issue on the international map. Having succeeded, and then toured, they went back to the studios with a few fresh influences and guests, but above all a greater confidence and coherence.
When you have oldies of the Sixties marrabenta style collaborating with young rappers and the up-and-coming female voice of Nene, you have to pick your material carefully. This time they hit the button pretty consistently, from Africanised ragga to Aids consciousness-raisers, delivering racy, light playing, with Nene a lively presence among the vocals.