Dec 6/04
The Zairean Upsetter
My man Ed in Brixton sent me a great album the other day called Heart of the Congo. Classic 1977 Lee Scratch Perry with the help of two Congolese musicians, Seka Molenga and Kalo Kawongolo, straight out of Perry’s original Black Ark sound. You’ll hear what I mean when you listen to those dirty-deep reggae rhythms.
Apparently when Perry put out this album he was pretty tripped out on Rastafarianism and believed it was Jah himself who called upon him to get some guys from Zaire and record some music. The best part of the album, however, is the last trackl: a super-chill remake of Robert Palmer’s “Love Can Run Faster”. I must have played it about a dozen times yesterday while wandering around the apartment or exploring the comforts of my bed on my lazy Sunday.
So hide somewhere where your boss can’t see you, roll one up and then listen to today’s picks. It’s ok to be lazy on Mondays, too.
Seka Molenga, Kalo Kawongolo & Lee Perry - Muto Ya Motema
Seka Molenga, Kalo Kawongolo & Lee Perry - River Stone Love Can Run Faster
December 6th, 2004 at 2:27 pm
Congratulations with your blog: finally someone who teaches me about African music & pop culture. Great post, these Lee Perry tracks. I never knew who the Congo’s were, but you have pulled them out of their anonimity. Thanks. If you dig Perry, there’s still a mix on my website at http://www.siebethissen.net/Dr_Auratheft_Audiozine/Mom_Radio/index.htm
Thanks.
December 9th, 2004 at 5:59 pm
welllll. not exactly actually….
apparently the story goes something like this:
“Not to be confused with The Congos’ Heart Of The Congos, this is an album with a great story behind it… In 1977, a would-be reggae promoter brought some fellows from Zaire to Jamaica in hopes of creating a new African reggae sound.
Apparently, she abandoned the two Africans soon after they arrived in Jamaica and left them stranded on the mean streets of Kingston. Not speaking any English, they had to beg for money and food to survive. Eventually, they found themselves at Lee Perry’s house and somehow communicated their desperate story. Perry took their arrival as a sign: Jah himself had sent these guys from Africa to make a connection with the Black Ark. Soon after, the three of them were in the Ark recording the six songs that make up From The Heart Of The Congo. It’s an incredible and ground breaking collaboration, done long before anyone was attempting such a crossover, and even before reggae had become popular in Africa. The result was a thick, swirling, tribal groove that is unique in the Lee Perry canon. Killers include “African Roots”, “Mutoya Motema”, and - oddly enough - the mislabelled Robert Palmer tune is really good, too!”
http://www.upsetter.net/scratch/disco/albums/album_congo.html
December 12th, 2004 at 7:42 pm
thanks again!
December 12th, 2004 at 11:24 pm
Man U are shatterin´ my ears with this incredible music…
Any word, any feeling can compare the sensations that flows in my mind… Thanks to open my deepest thoughts!! / From Buenos Aires, big thanks from a true evangelist of your site!!
March 24th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
Heh. I’ve been at this blog before and enjoyed it (and you’ll likely never see this comment), but I ran across this entry on a search and am deadly curious. Any hope of seeing those tracks up again?
November 7th, 2006 at 11:14 pm
That’s true great music - from the roots. Today Kalo Kawongolo is still active… in France !!!