Disapora for Africa Vol. 2

Release: June 13th, 2008

Culture Taxi Records marshals its collective expertise once again and presents the latest instalment in the global fight against malnutrition and poverty. Artists the world over have donated tracks to this double collection, and the top-notch result is worthy in more ways than one.

Following the company ethic of setting the music of Africa in a wider context, here you find talking drums and koras seated alongside drum machines and funky horn sections; here’s a jazzy guitar solo supported by a rhythm section that clearly grew up with high-life, there’s a sparkly sequenced gospel-influenced tune which takes a sudden turn towards flamenco.

There’s an inordinate amount of ear-friendly material on this double collection, not least the the marvellous Mandinga. Aided by their guest Brandy, they deliver ‘Solo Savarigne’, a hybrid Gambia/Ghanaian pop tune which gets immediately under the skin. Ndioba also fit seamlessly into any discerning radio stations drive-time schedule with ‘Angela’. For the lover of loud guitars, your driver will take a detour in the direction of Hilary Hawn, with her rolling ‘Mask’, and Mudfunk deliver an acoustic but equally rocking tune which combines derbouka and thrashed acoustic guitars. The massed vocals of Davin Steve bounce off a horn section funky enough to make even the tiredest feet move, and the relaxing reggae shuffle of Kush recall the Marley-meister in full flow. And even the legendary Manu Dibango gets a look in, with ‘Petit Fleur’, a marvellous mix of French chanson and smoochy sax in his melancholy version of Sidney Bechet’s evergreen.

Your Culture Taxi driver is, as ever, at your service and more than willing to tour the highways and byways in search of solid music with soul, of a modern expression of culture that has not lost its genetic memory. If he spots an interesting detour as he cruises past, backs up and sets off down a new route, you will thank him for it!

Based on the success of the first volume, "The Diaspora for Africa" Benefit Vol. 2 compilation is the second, but not the las part of the vision of producer/artist Alain Nkossi Konda from the DR. Congo.

Tracklist:

CD1/Total running time; 56:47

01: Ngalula Mabudi (D.R. Congo) - Wamulega moyi (Great them)
02: Mandinga (Gambia/Swiss) - Soto Savarigne feat. Brandy
03: Babylove & the Van Dangos (Denmark) - Jump’n Swing’n Sway
04: Ndioba (Senegal/ Finland) - Angela
05: Joshua Meltzer (U.S.A) - Gypsie moon
06: JK (Uganda) - Nakuba
07: Hilary Hawn (U.S.A) - Mask
08: Mudfunk (U.S.A) - lnto the woods
09: Taj Weekes & Adowa (St. Lucia) - Crash
10: Akayzia Parker (UK) - Maybe
11: Davin Steve (D.R. Congo/Germany) - Yebisa Ngai
12: Denise Gordon (U.S.A) - We need the children
13: Kush & bloodfiyah Angels (Ivory Coast/ U.S.A) - Home sweet home
14: Ronny Morris (Denmark) - Windows

CD2 / Total running time: 58:57

01: Alain N. Konda (D.R. Congo) - I am somebody
02: Nicolette Aubourg (South Africa) - Lay down your life
03: Zani (South America/U.S.A) - How beautiful
04: "Sir" Francis (D.R. Congo/U.S.A) - Why
05: Eve Gallagher (Swiss) - Heaven help me
06: Miko Fukunaga (Japan) - Two of us
07: Janet Bates (U.S.A) - Another Child
08: Mr. Rio w John "Papa" Jube (Haiti/U.S.A) - Fanm Ayisien
09: Nicole Collins (U.S.A) - The edge
10: Lindu Mona (Angola/Portugal) - Mukuatutoma
11: Haile Loren (U.S.A) - Lucky
12: Manu Dibango (Cameroon) - Petite Fleur
13: Chrisse Feros (Australia) - Better way
14: Mark Hidreth (U.S.A) - Beauty of it all