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CD Review
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North County Post, CD Review >>
Whether it's in hope of a huge, breakthrough American hit or of growing a larger fan base, South Africa's venerable Ladysmith Black Mambazo has now joined U.S. musical giants ranging from Frank Sinatra to B.B. King to John Lee Hooker to Carlos Santana who have recorded albums composed of duets with other famous artists.
Of course, given LBM's existing a cappella eight-part harmony you can't really call anything they do with an outside singer a "duet." Still, bringing in Melissa Etheridge, Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant and Zap Mama to co-perform with LBM is generally interesting, even if the ultimate result isn't all that memorable.
A remake of the Paul Simon-LBM song "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" with Melissa Etheridge singing Simon's part is pleasant enough, but offers nothing the original didn't. While Natalie Merchant sings more as part of the band than lead on "Rain Rain Beautiful Rain," her voice doesn't add anything substantial to the track. When she does take lead, she just doesn't fit in with the band.
Even Taj Mahal, who has played with other African artists and even native Hawaiian musicians, doesn't really click with LBM on his cut. While Emmylou Harris sounds perfectly at ease on "Amazing Grace," the band seems unsure of what to do with the straight-ahead American-style arrangement.
On the other hand, Sarah McLachlan does a better job of melding her vocals to the band's style on "Homeless," and her gorgeous soprano voice offers a lovely counterpoint to lead singer Joseph Shabalala's tenor.
Not surprisingly, it's the cooperative ventures with their fellow African musicians that seem to work most seamlessly. Both Zap Mama and Lucky Dube share the same groove as LBM and the results are much more satisfying.
Still, nothing here is comparable to the magic created in 2004 when the band recorded with the English Chamber Orchestra. That melding of vastly disparate styles resulted in something new, something special.
That sense of discovery is missing from this album, which is in the end as good as it is mostly from the sheer talent of Shabalala and his bandmates.
. 03/02/06 >> go there
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