Konono No.1's "Congotronics" album introduced the world to the strange and spectacular electro-traditional mixtures which are being concocted in the suburbs of Kinshasa, Congo. World music, electronica and avant-rock aficionados have all been equally amazed by this otherworldly music, which has driven the international press to come up with some surprising comparisons (from Can and Krautrock to Jimi Hendrix, Lee Perry and proto-techno!...).
The band was founded back in the 1960s by Mingiedi Mawangu, a virtuoso of the likembé (a traditional instrument sometimes called "sanza" or "thumb piano", consisting of ...
New Decade, New Crammed Discs
So what new joys await from Crammed in this, the first year of the second decade of the century?
First up is the finest work yet from the three-headed, dancefloor-conquering powerhouse known as BALKAN BEAT BOX. Blue Eyed Black Boy, their second full album for Crammed, is out in early March, and tour dates will follow very soon...
Also ready to roll with exciting new material are LONELY DRIFTER KAREN, whose wondrous second album Fall Of Spring finds their pan-European songcraft moving to the next level. Tanja, Marc and Giorgio will be as active on the road as ever this year, keep an eye out for live announcements...
Next up, all hail the Springtime return of the mighty KONONO No.1, with their follow-up to the seminal first volume of the Congotronics series (speaking of which, there should be some more exciting news to report for "Congotronics" fans in the near future)...
And finally there's the long-awaited new CIBELLE record to look forward to – Las Vênus Resort Palace Hotel is a wildly exotic masterpiece, and should be with us in April.
Much more news on all these mouth-watering new releases very soon!
