Mdungu - Gambian Space Program

[DavidM]

Here's a group from Amsterdam that I just came across on the Luisterpaal streaming site. The band play an attractive mix of west-african and reggae styles with a solid horn section and some groovy percussion.

Here you can listen to their new album on stream for a few more days;
http://3voor12.vpro.nl/speler/luisterpaal/45310243#luisterpaal.45310243

Here is their website;
http://mdungu.com/index.html

I've listened to it a few times now over the last couple of days, and I enjoy it more and more. The singer, who is from Gambia, sounds a bit like Salif Keita (well, I that's what I think). Their first album was produced by Justin Adams. The website doesn't say who produced this second one, but it has some beefy guitar playing on it that certainly sounds like he might have had a hand in it again.

If you're in a hurry try the following tracks;
2. Gambian Space Program
7. Clavesong
8. Scandal

[DavidM]

Here's another opinion. From Nick Hobbs writing on the Womex showcases;

Mdungo (Gambia, Spain, Luxembourg & the Netherlands)
We seem to be a very long way from the low countries. We're very much in Africa though an Africa moved a long way north and it seems to make sense. The musicians are enjoying themselves and things are not forced. The rhythms are easy-going, summery. The horns are European but it doesn't matter (well it does a bit but they make up for some inappropriateness with enthusiasm). Whether they're exceptional is a harder question. I'm entertained and they put me in a good mood so it would be churlish to criticise them for not being what they're not.

(I'm entertained and put in a good mood, too.)

http://www.froots.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6308

[judith]

'Groovy percussion', as you say - absolutely!

By the way, I love Nick Hobb's comment - "I'm entertained and they put me in a good mood so it would be churlish to criticise them for not being what they're not."