Djembe Monks - Bantu Migrant Album Review
This band has managed to carve out a niche for themselves in the market. They are not that much known outside Bulawayo and Vic Falls but they have managed to create a faithful fan base in those regions and they always keep getting booked for shows in those two regions. However if you are a fan of Tribal house like me you must have come across them at some point in time, they deliver energetic performances whenever called upon.
They released Bantu Migrant last year and due to other commitments have failed to get some time to share my thoughts on this project with you. Finally my schedule has cleared up, have taken some time to listen to the album and today will be sharing with you my views and thoughts on their album.
The album contains 13 track and as usual will be doing a track by track review;
1. Bantu Move (feat Ex Mile)
The first track on the album ushers you into the tribal mood in a good way. The track builds anticipation through some lovely vocals from Ex Mile coupled with the strings and tribal sounds. The production is done well, love the instrumental arrangement, the flute sound was a superb addition to give the track a different dimension. The track builds on well, it gets you into the mood the more it goes, the only downside is how short the track is, when it ends you will be anticipating another drop, it leaves you hanging.
The first track on the album ushers you into the tribal mood in a good way. The track builds anticipation through some lovely vocals from Ex Mile coupled with the strings and tribal sounds. The production is done well, love the instrumental arrangement, the flute sound was a superb addition to give the track a different dimension. The track builds on well, it gets you into the mood the more it goes, the only downside is how short the track is, when it ends you will be anticipating another drop, it leaves you hanging.
2. Low Density Blues (Amy & The Calamites)
On this super lovely jam, they teamed up with another exciting group from the City Of Kings to deliver an enchanting soulful jam. Love the feeling of this whole jam, the guitar work is on point and super lovely. The instrumental arrangement is done well, its minimal in a way, especually compared with other track on the album. Amy laced the track with some super soulful dreamy vocals which fit the overall feel of the track well. This is currently my early favourite track on the album.
3. Where Did The Love Go (feat Mimie & Cyd Bass)
They carried on with the soulful vibe onto this track. This time around they engaged one of the most promising vocalists from Bulawayo Mimie who did a solid job on the vocals. The production is done well, love the rock guitar progression and the track moves at a perfect pace which gives the track a solid platform to hit deep down inside the listener. I'm quite sure Cyd Bass was on the guitar and I have to applaud him for a job superbly done, this is superb jam.
They carried on with the soulful vibe onto this track. This time around they engaged one of the most promising vocalists from Bulawayo Mimie who did a solid job on the vocals. The production is done well, love the rock guitar progression and the track moves at a perfect pace which gives the track a solid platform to hit deep down inside the listener. I'm quite sure Cyd Bass was on the guitar and I have to applaud him for a job superbly done, this is superb jam.
4. Un peu d'amor (feat MASA & Phats)
The switched up the tempo and sprinkled some, Latin flavour into this track. The track sounds lovely, the production is done well, its a different sound from all the other songs, its refreshing. The track mixes French and Shona is a seamless way, props to Masa. Its a lovely jam that will have you doing the salsa dances on the dancefloor.
The switched up the tempo and sprinkled some, Latin flavour into this track. The track sounds lovely, the production is done well, its a different sound from all the other songs, its refreshing. The track mixes French and Shona is a seamless way, props to Masa. Its a lovely jam that will have you doing the salsa dances on the dancefloor.
5. Somabhula (feat Willis Watafi)
This was the first single released from the album. The instrumental grabs your attention from the onset, they made great use of different ethnic sounds creating quite an enchanting vibe. The overall production is done very well, love the progression of the track. Willis Watafi was also up to the task on the vocals, complementing the instrumental very well and injecting the necessary energy required.
This was the first single released from the album. The instrumental grabs your attention from the onset, they made great use of different ethnic sounds creating quite an enchanting vibe. The overall production is done very well, love the progression of the track. Willis Watafi was also up to the task on the vocals, complementing the instrumental very well and injecting the necessary energy required.
6. The Crow
The decided to go the instrumental house way on this track. Making a track with no vocals is quite a big ask for anyone. The group did quite a commendable job on here, the arrangement is quite okay, the track would work well more in mix.
7. Lobola Ceremony (feat Ex Mile)
This track feel like an interlude, its too short, its ends just as the vibe is getting to you. With house music, 2 min songs do not work, an average of 6 mins is ideal, the track will have enough time to get into the system. The track is however arranged quite well, the progression is done well, expected a lot of whistles and ululation sounds as what actually occurs on the Lobola ceremony. I'm sure when they perform this track live they extend it or maybe there is an extended version, that would make much more sense, this is just too short.
This track feel like an interlude, its too short, its ends just as the vibe is getting to you. With house music, 2 min songs do not work, an average of 6 mins is ideal, the track will have enough time to get into the system. The track is however arranged quite well, the progression is done well, expected a lot of whistles and ululation sounds as what actually occurs on the Lobola ceremony. I'm sure when they perform this track live they extend it or maybe there is an extended version, that would make much more sense, this is just too short.
8. Bantu Migrant (feat Trust Samende)
This is the track that made me want to listen to this album, am a huge fan of Trust Samende, I believe he is the best guitarist we have in the country at the moment. With such a talented guitarists, one would be expecting some superb guitar work and the track delivers that in boatloads. The production is done very well, the guitar shines a lot in the enchanting mystical atmosphere of the track. This is one of those tracks that get you into a trance, you can easily get lost in the sound here. There are no vocals and there was no need for any, the guitar and percussions did the job very well. This is a super lovely jam, gets me bumping every-time the song plays.
9. Kosomoro (feat Mzoe 7)
This would be a perfect track to play to someone who wants to hear what tribal house sounds like. The track has a lot of energy, the arrangement is done well and the track in overall has a strong tribal vibe which will pushes you to start dancing. Tribal music uses the allure of traditional instrumental to get people on the dancefloor and that is what this track does. The vocals are also done well, they managed to complement the instrumental and energy well.
10. Mabororo (feat Willis Watafi)
This track felt like a continuation of the previous jam until the edgy bass kicks in which takes you by surprise. The track has a lot of energy same as the previous jam but I some instances it feels a bit congested, especially when the vocals are raised. In overall the track is quite okay, the track does not have the same magic as the Kosomoro but it not bad.
This track felt like a continuation of the previous jam until the edgy bass kicks in which takes you by surprise. The track has a lot of energy same as the previous jam but I some instances it feels a bit congested, especially when the vocals are raised. In overall the track is quite okay, the track does not have the same magic as the Kosomoro but it not bad.
11. Umgandani Dlodlo Chief Of Inxa (feat Hudson Simbarashe)
When you want to differentiate tribal house from other house sub-genres this track can be a perfect pick for that. The track has all the enchanting elements of tribal music, love the arrangement of the track. The synths and guitar take control of you and you just get lost in the sound. When tribal house is made this well you just dance, you do not care of being ins sync with the beat or doing a certain dance style, you just dance. Hudson Simbarashe as in charge of the guitar and he did a superb job on that.
When you want to differentiate tribal house from other house sub-genres this track can be a perfect pick for that. The track has all the enchanting elements of tribal music, love the arrangement of the track. The synths and guitar take control of you and you just get lost in the sound. When tribal house is made this well you just dance, you do not care of being ins sync with the beat or doing a certain dance style, you just dance. Hudson Simbarashe as in charge of the guitar and he did a superb job on that.
12. Tika Tika
This is the second of the two tracks with no features and this is much better than the first one; The Crow. This track continues on the superb tribal vibe from the last track, the instrumental arrangement is done well, the scream and shouts all add to a full tribal sound.
This is the second of the two tracks with no features and this is much better than the first one; The Crow. This track continues on the superb tribal vibe from the last track, the instrumental arrangement is done well, the scream and shouts all add to a full tribal sound.
13. Njelimana (feat Martin Oosthuzien)
The last track on the album ends of a purely tribal vibe, this is the sound many tourists expect to hear when they visit our traditional tourist centers. The track takes its energy from the traditional drums, vocal structures, ululations and whistles. The track is produced well and creates a fitting happy sign off from the album.
The last track on the album ends of a purely tribal vibe, this is the sound many tourists expect to hear when they visit our traditional tourist centers. The track takes its energy from the traditional drums, vocal structures, ululations and whistles. The track is produced well and creates a fitting happy sign off from the album.
Stream The Album: Bantu Migrant
So ya that's it for Bantu Migrant, its a solid album. Have not had such a feeling whilst listening to an album since I listened to Mokoomba's Luyando which up to now is still the highest rated album on this blog. Bantu Migrant offers a different and refreshing sound which is different to the generic pop music that you get to hear all over the radio and TV. You know you are listening to good music when after you listen to it you do not need validation from anyone as to whether this is a good project, you will just trust your ears and conclude at that.
The production is done well, the instrumental arrangements are done well, the tribal sound is all over the project. Given how the guys perform, this album makes you want to attend their next show. The album is full of collaborations and they did a good job selecting those who fit their music. In a world whereby many rush to one artist for a collaboration because that vocalists is popular or already loved by the masses the guys went for those artists who make their music complete and I love them for that.
The project is however not perfect, well nothing really is. Lobola Ceremony & Bantu Move are too short, they leave you hanging. I feel deep/tribal house music tracks cannot be 2 or 3 mins long, Kwete, Haibo, No, that is the period the track reaches top groove, it cannot end there.
In conclusion this is very solid album, its one of those whereby if you come across it you will love it to bits. Its definitely not an album for everyone, those who love popular music or those who wait for a song/album to be trending before they give it a try will not enjoy this album, but those who love to explore different sounds and arrangements they will love this to bits. Am part of the latter and I love this project. I definitely recommend it.
My Overall Rating: 8/10
What are your thoughts on the album???
Proud_Zimbo
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