I learnt about Freshly Ground about 5 - 6 years ago in a park in Queens. Then, a friend of mine was going on and on about this group and a song that was hitting the airwaves then in Southern Africa. I was really curious about this group, so I went searching for their music and I was hooked. It was love at first listen. Songs like ‘Nomvula’ and ‘I’d like’ are still some of my top favorites from this group. So, I was super excited when I received an unexpected email leading me to their newest music which unfortunately, per agreement, I can’t share on this site but you can purchase your copy on amazon.com. I rushed to get my copy and it has been ear orgasms since then.

What words can be used to describe this CD? Awesome! Aweinspiring! Beautiful! Ear Orgasms! Addiction! . This CD is made up of fourteen (14) songs which take you on an eclectic journey of tastes and sounds. You hear different fusions sometimes within the same song. There is a reason that in certain quarters, this group goes by the name the Soul Rockstars. Sounds you hear within this CD include - Electro Sounds, Dance, Soul, Folk and the list goes on. For African music lovers - trust me, they do not go so off the beaten path that they do not have their roots intact. Yes, this CD has a fusion of westernized sounds but they also sing in their language while mixing it with traditional South African Sounds.

There are so many songs that deserve a star but my favorite is Shake it because I can hear some sounds from Mali (Salif Keita’s ) and then towards the end you kind of feel the grasp of Fela’s Afrobeat music in that mix. You just want to just Shake it! Other great songs are Nomthandzo, Mina Nobhiza, Won’t let go and You Would Love. But then, that’s my preference - you can purchase your copy and then let me/us know which song hits your like button.


Happy Monday,

Pam.