World Folk/Rock: Congotronics 2: Buzz’n’Rumble from the Urb’n’Jungle

In honor of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s recent election, the first such democratic election in 45 years (more info at the United Nations site), it’s a good time to go get yourself a copy of Congotronics 2: Buzz’n’Rumble from the Urb’n’Jungle. A compilation of artists from Congo that layer traditional rhythms and instruments on top of electric guitars and Hip Hop-like effects, Congotronics is at once foreign to Western ears but also familiar to anyone used to techno/electronic music’s repetitive patterns.

Thankfully Congotronics includes some beautiful edited videos of six songs that help reveal what’s going on in these mysterious sounds. The DVD contextualizes the music and instruments, the bands and the people, the traditions and the modern environment of the Congolese. There you can see the Kasai Allstars in traditional tribal dress, playing many traditional instruments, but also electrified with mics and amps. On the song by Sobanza Mimansia, you get a look at an electrified likembe. As you watch the people dancing on many of the videos, you’ll find yourself amazed at the different sense of rhythm found in the tribal patterns but then also see the similarities to what you see on a Western dance floor.

May Congotronics and other projects like this increase our awareness of the Congo, their reforms, the hope for increased prosperity, and a culture that is retaining its own style even while the people sip on Coca-Colas.

Thanks to Crammed Discs and Rykodisc for the review CD/DVD.