Congo's turbulent and exhilarating '70s! Nightclubs and dance floors
were packed to the brim in the capital Kinshasa. Exuberant crowds, still
giddy from independence a decade prior, grooved to the sounds of the
country's classics. In fact the whole continent was submerged into the
Congolese Rumba craze. Encouraged by the fantastic productions of the
Ngoma label, vibrant radio waves had been spreading the Congo sound from
Leopoldville all over the continent, becoming the country's No.1
export. The unexpected success nurtured an incredible wealth of talented
musicians. One of them was Verckys, who, at age 18, became a member of
the country's most dominant and influential band: Franco's O.K. Jazz.
This "relationship" however was short-lived as Verckys, aka Georges
Mateta Kiamuangana, now a versatile and potent multi instrumentalist,
had plans of his own - the formation of Orchestre Vévé in 1968, with the
aim of reinventing and modernising the Congolese sound. Blending the
ever influential prowess of James Brown with Congolese Merengue, Rumba
and Soukous, Verckys stripped away the conventional approach that O.K.
Jazz had pioneered, allowing his saxophone-laced melodies to dominate.
Around 1970 a new important area began with the foundation of the label
"Les Editions Vévé" on which Verckys would release his own productions. A
studio was built and Verckys started recording young urban artists,
with guitar-driven Cavacha sounds; Les Freres Soki, Bella Bella,
Orchestre Kiam and many more shot to stardom overnight, making Verckys a
very wealthy man. But that wasn't enough for an ambitious man with a
vision. He built a sprawling entertainment complex called Vévé Centre,
and dispatched a team to learn the intricacies of record pressing to set
up the first pressing plant in the country. This was followed by the
construction of the Congo's most modern recording studio in Kinshasa, in
which he recorded the legendary Tabu Lay Rochereau. Orchestre Vévé's
popularity poured across borders and in 1974 the band travelled to Kenya
for a 2 month tour. 'Bassala Hot', 'Cheka Sana' and 'Talali Talala'
were some of the tracks recorded in Nairobi for the Kenyan market, songs
which are now available to the ears of the world for the very first
time. Analog Africa has now the privilege to present 11 tracks by
Verckys et L'Orchestre Vévé at the height of their most funky
capabilities. Compiled over the course of many years in a land of
hardship, we welcome you to the grooviest era of the Congo with a CD and
double LP release accompanied by in-depth liner notes and vintage
photographs. Verckys, who James Brown dubbed "Mister Dynamite" after
seeing him perform in Kinshasa in 1974, will be touring Europe in the
summer of 2015.
clear-spot.nl
Tracklist
01. Bassala Hot 7:41 (Afrobeat)
02. Ya Nini 9:45 (Congolese Rumba)
03. Cheka Sana 4:42 (Afro Funk)
04. Oui Verckys 3:20 (Organ Jerk)
05. Nakobala Yo Denise 4:00 (Afro Pop)
06. Sex Veve 4:25 (Blues)
07. Sisa Motema 4:13 (Psychedelic Rumba)
08. Talali Talala 4:08 (Afro Funk)
09. Zonga Vonvon 3:56 (Psychedelic Rumba)
10. Nakomi Paralise 6:42 (Cavacha)
11. Matinda comono 2:45 (Pachanga)
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