Search - Papa Wemba :: Molokai

Too much production, not enough soukous

07/27/1999

(2 out of 5 stars)

"There *are* a few good tracks on this disc, but Papa Wemba's all-soukous albums are the Genuine Article -- listen to him with Viva La Musica (his current working group) -- the groove is irresistible, the vocals soar (much more so than on this album) and you'll have a taste of what tout le monde really loves! (Nothing blanded-out or dull, certainment.)"

The most accessible Papa Wemba so far.

03/27/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For the world music fan from Europe or North America, I think this is the most accessible of Papa Wemba's albums so far. Here we, poor untrained listeners, can enjoy the full range of his voice, together with the finest of Congolese music. For a person enjoying a great deal of African and Afro-American/Latin American music, especially Cuban, his music really shows the continuity between the two."

Second from the top, but up there

08/09/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I think Papa Wemba went a little American in some of the tracks, however it's still a fine cd. Maybe it's because I (and most Zairians) identify this music with soukouss or African rumba. I'm one of few people of European descent who know his real name. He is one great showman."