Sublime Vocal Focus
South African Simphiwe Dana’s album is defined most
completely by its choric harmonies across wonderful Afro-roots melodies and a production
focusing on the vocal. I‘m not expert on those roots, but the rhythms, guitar
picks and at times Xhosa lyrics place them. Opener Usikhonzile is genuinely sublime. Second track Kumnyama exemplifies another vocal patterning, with multiple calls
and inserts and echoes and differing tone/pace/volume building a hypnotic sound
of voices. Touchstones would seem to vary, what sounds like TexMex leading off Mama Was a Kitchen Girl most likely a
more indigenous reference point, the song’s percussive beats underpinning this.
A wholly soothing, beautiful listen throughout.
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