Search - Vusi Mahlasela :: When You Come Back

Graceful and poetic

Pieter | Johannesburg | 11/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mahlasela has been compared to martyred Chilean protest singer Victor Jara and his melodic songs of yearning described as African Folk. Inevitably he will also be mentioned in the same breath as Robert Wyatt for the political themes of some of his songs. Labels aside, his soulful voice which dips and soars effortlessly from tremulous alto to celestial falsetto is backed by an exquisite mix of guitar, flute, pennywhistle, sax, drums, percussion, bass and keyboards to clothe the poetic lyrics in raiments of sonic ecstacy. No wonder Vusi refers to his singing style as "muso-poetry". Since the album forms such a cohesive whole it's a bit unfair to single out certain songs, but those that speak to the soul with great immediacy include the title track, Epitoli, Gijimane Masotsha, Hello Mams, In Solitary Confinement and especially the almost supernaturally beautiful Tonkana with its African veld samples (cattle lowing etc). No one who grew up on the African continent will be unmoved by this song. This album is as beautiful and accessible as Paul Simon's Graceland."

Great Music from South Africa

Pieter | 06/07/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I was there in 1995, I found South Africa's music scene to be fairly barren. The country's great artists -- Johnny Clegg, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ray Phiri, Hugh Masekela and a handful of others -- had ascended to a global stage, but there had been very little updraft. The biggest influences on music seemed to be bad American pop & rap. I came across Vusi Mahlasela (mot-la-say-la) with a great deal of relief. Here was an artist who combined incredible harmony and a lilting voice (in several languages) with powerful commentary on the post-apartheid scene evolving around him. The title track on this album, for example, is an incredible celebration of exiles returning to South Africa in celebration. Other tracks address retribution and reconciliation. This is a great one and I hope Vusi emerges as one of South Africa's new stars!"