Search - Vusi Mahlasela :: Wisdom of Forgiveness

GRACEFUL, SOULFUL AND MOVING

Pieter | Johannesburg | 09/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Vusi Mahlasela is a folk music hero in South Africa and this is one of his classic albums, released in 1994. He sings in English, Sotho and Zulu assisted by some of the country's greatest musicians like the Soweto String Quartet, Victor Msondo on bass, Ian Herman on drums and percussion, Louis Mhlanga on lead and rhythm guitar, Bruce Cassidy on trumpet, Lloyd Ross on mandolin and guitar and Lloyd Martin on additional percussion. The beautiful backing vocals are by Caroline and Thandi Masemola, Gloria Bosman and Constance Mahlo. What really makes the music, though, is Vusi's beautiful voice, the sincerity and the soul therein, plus the incredibly beautiful melodies. This is especially evident in the uptempo and inspiring (Tshimong Ya) Ntate Mahlasela with its lilting rhythms and enjoyable instrumental flourishes. Ubuhle Bomhlaba is a sad anthemic song where his voice and the guitars expertly complement one another. Track four, Tontobane, is a lovely galloping tune with buoyant rhythms and addictive chorus, very close in style to South African township pop of the seventies. Basimanyane makes use of traditional African vocal techniques, Two Birds is a soaring folk song with powerful acoustic gitar, while Yithi Masotsha is a bubbly pop song sung in English with breathtaking female vocals in the same style as the splendid vocal work of the Gaza Sisters on Paul Simon's brilliant Graceland album.Nqondo Phumula has a spacey feel with atmospheric male backing vocals and joyful guitar breaks, whilst the title track, sung in English, is a gentle but powerful and soulful plea for harmony and forgiveness, one of Mahlasela's most moving songs and a fitting conclusion to this remarkable album with its joyful, sad and spiritually appealing songs. If you like Paul Simon's Graceland, you'll love this album."