i just returned home from a great konono show downtown in reykjavík. It was an amazing experience (they even got a crowd of drunk icelanders to actually move their bodies) and managed to radiate pure joy for over a two hour set.
for those of you who don't know, Konono, a.k.a "L'orchestre folklorique T.P. Konono N°1 de Mingiedi" is a band from republic of Congo - and although they've been rockin the likémbes for decades - they have just recently received worldwide recognition.
they play likémbes (thumb pianos) built from car wreckages and old phone receivers, accompanied by this amazing lady that sings and dances. not many artists have managed to make me feel as happy as Konono N°1, and i'm buying a ticket to Congo as soon as I possibly can!
I reccomend you grab a copy of congotronics, their only record (that i know of) and experience the rhythm.
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Written May 11 2007 , Tags: happiness
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yes, LOVE these guys...
was bobby there?
this album rocks my ass
label site
don't know how good distribution is worldwide, but this album should not be missed Yeah saw them at womad last year - brilliant. They just don't stop. I think they might have a second CD available too.
Recent blogs: One On Twoism Volume 3 - New Compilation
they sound wicked. written down in my little black book of tings to look up...
yeah, i saw them in pittsburgh. amazing. i've never danced so hard...i love how multigenerational they are, too, the age range of the band must be like 16-60. I talked to a couple of the younger guys at the end and they turned out to be so cool, and oddly unsure of themselves. they kept asking me "so you liked it? was it a good show? did it go over well?" i had to tell them a million times that it was amazing. then one of the older guys hugged me and said thanks for dancing, but that i was a terrible dancer, and that i should move to the congo and marry one of his daughters who could then teach me to dance. hilarious!
I heard these guys open for Bjork in Manhattan. They sounded great...
Congotronics vol 2 coming out so it seems :D thanks for this find man, i love it
Cool, the Congotronics 1 album is avalable on Bleep:
link Thanks for the heads-up, kćri íslendingur. I have an album which is a live recording of their first european show. link
There is also a split 12" released on Fat Cat Records a while back. I bought Congotronics vol 2 a few weeks ago, haven't had a chance to give it a proper listen (or give the dvd a proper viewing)
it's retailing for Ł7.98 at amazon.co.uk just now Signup to comment
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