Mbeu & The Mhodzi Tribe - The Mhodzi Diaries Album Review

Mbeu has been in fine form since he dropped his reggae singles collection in 2017, superb reggae tracks such as Mavanga, Emma, Kuti Unzi, Ndapfugama..etc made Mbeu an instant darling for many reggae fans.  He  further solidified his status as one of the brightest musical acts in the nation with his super beautiful 2018 debut Hatizvimirire album which was and is still a marvel to listen to. On that album he changed to a more Afro jazz, Afro fusion sound, which opened up many doors for him and won him loads of fans. Reviewed the album and it went on to become my top album of 2018, it's beautiful piece of art. Hatizvimirire coupled with good management made sure Mbeu was one of the most sought after act in the country in 2018, he performed at countless events making sure his music is known in as many corners of the nation as possible.

At the beginning of the year Mbeu's mentor and legendary artist Dr Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi sadly passed away. Mbeu was then chosen as the fit candidate to perform the Tuku's songs at various commemoration gigs locally and regionally, another testament to the belief many have in Mbeu. Despite all the support he is getting Mbeu has to deliver when it comes to the music he has now  released his second album Titles The Mhodzi Diaries. A lot is riding on this album, following up on a superb debut album is never easy, he also has to justify all the belief put on him, he has to show he has the capabilities to be the new face of Afro jazz, Afro fusion in Zim, he also has set his sights on the international market and this album will prove how serious he is about that. He teamed up with the legendary producer Clive Monomukundu on this album and that is very promising, however potential is however nothing if not backed by adequate action and creativity so have gotten my copy of the album, gave myself a week of listening and today will be sharing my thoughts on the project.

As usual will be doing a track by track review of all the 10 tracks.

1. Mhondi Yenguva
The opening track of the album is on a reggae tip and it sounds wonderful. Mbeu made a mark singing reggae then switched to Afro jazz but given how seamless the two genres can mix he was bound to deliver some reggae jams along the way. The Mhodzi Tribe band has grown as a unit this past year, the experience they acquired and chemistry is showing on this project. The production is beautifully done, love the instrumental arrangement. The vocals are also on point, beautifully delivered, Mbeu as expected is amazing, the backing vocals have improved a lot, Nandi has grown accustomed to her role and her beautiful vocals can be felt all over the track. The track talks about how powerful memories can be, memories can bring back the pain, they can disrupt your whole mood and day.

2. Matare
Mbeu sings about a very interesting and touching topic that many face in families. Family members overlook you in many decisions because you are not successful but once your life starts to change you now start being called to those family meeting, family events, they start waiting on you now that you are financially sound. The explosive theme is laced by some well arranged instrumentals, you can't help but enjoy this sound, the guitar, the hosho all on point. The vocals again are top notch, Mbeu superb on the lead, Nandi superb on the backing vocals.

3. Kondo
The superb sound continues on this track, the instrumental arrangement is a tad similar to the previous jam but beautiful nonetheless. The lead guitar on this track is superb, its done very well. The whole instrumental arrangement is superb, love the uptempo part on the chorus. The addition of the hosho has opened a new dimension for Mbeu's sound. On the track Mbeu is singing to his wife whom was loved by his mother but she didn't know her manners were not amicable, she is now making making his life toxic. They have been together for some years but she doesn't appreciate and is making his life miserable.

4. Kafira Mberi
Mbeu continues on the love and relationship tip onto this track where he is saying you have sentenced me to a slow death. He has came across a lady whom he cannot control but is head over heels for and is now split in between, he knows this person will bring pain to him but he cannot let go. The production again is well done, instrumental arrangement is also well done. The vocals are again well done, blending well with the mood of the track and arrangement of the instrumentals.

5. Nguva
On this track Mbeu is saying time if precious but short so one need to plan for their life when time is still in their side. The track sounds lovely, the production is well done. The vocals are superbly done, Mbeu and Nandi have some serious chemistry on the vocals. This is one of those track you can listen to over and over without it becoming boring.

6. Baba Vedu
This is Mbeu rendition of the Lords Prayer. He gave the prayer a lovely reggae spin which sounds heavenly. The production is done very well, the instrumental arrangement is super lovely, love the country influences especially on the lead guitar. This is track that you will be singing along to countless times, its beautiful. The vocals are superbly done.

7. Ngoni
This may be the most beautiful love your enemies dedication I have ever heard. Mbeu is saying unto the Lord have mercy on those who are jealous and wish bad upon me. He wishing it all works well in their lives despite the evil they wish on him. "Love your enemies..." even the bible says so. The production is done superbly well, the instrumental arrangements is beautiful, love the lead and bass guitar. The vocals as is now the norm are superbly done, Mbeu ridiculously good as usual with Nandi's complementing him superbly.

8. Dambudzo
Mbeu addresses the need for people to practice self control, as a parent you should not leave a burden to your kids and families because of your lack of self respect. He is urging should learn to build each other up, advice each other against making bad decisions. He borrows inspiration from the late Dr Oliver Mtukudzi's Kuzvininipisa Kune Bundutso track. The productions is done well, the arrangement of the instruments provide a perfect platform for the vocals and also sets the tone of the track superbly well. The vocals are well done, Mbeu manages to show the emotion and depth of his worries.

9. Zambuko
On this track Mbeu is saying unto the Lord give me the wisdom to be able to discern, what to do and not to do. Life is all about making decision and one needs to be wise about the choices they make. The track is produced well, the instrumental arrangement is done well. The vocals are again done very well.

10. Africa

The last track on the album is Mbeu's dedication to the Whole of Africa, he is calling for unity among Africans. The track is produced well, love the instrumental selections and arrangements. The sax was a nice addition, love the bass and lead guitars and the African drums. The vocals are again well done, both on Mbeu's lead and the backing vocals. Its a beautiful dedication.

Stream the album:

So ya that's it for the Mhodzi Diaries and its superb. Was really anxious to see whether he can beat his debut album Hatizvimirire, did not know if he could beat it but wow he just effortlessly surpassed it!!!, given how superb Hatizvimirire is, this will make Mbeu a scary proposition for any artist. He has matured greatly in this past year and its all showing in this album.

The production is top notch throughout, Monomukundu is a legend for a reason, he does not compromise in any way. The instrumental arrangements are top notch throughout, on every track one can clearly feel how solid a unit the band is now, they now understand each other. They say practice makes perfect and that old saying is proving true with Mbeu and his Mhodzi Tribe. The biggest change/upgrade however the band has done over the year is engaging the services of Nandi, she has unlocked a different dimension for the band, her vocals and hosho have straight up improved Mbeu's entire sound.

The vocals are superb on this project; Mbeu is blessed with some superb vocals and it shows every-time he opens his mouth. He currently has some of the best vocals in the entire music industry. The  backing vocals are the biggest improvement from his debut album (this says a lot as the backing vocals were also good on his last album) and that is all because of the inclusion of Nandi. She has some beautiful vocals and has been blessing us throughout this project. Nailing backing vocals is a tough act, way harder than those who have never tried singing can imagine, I was once a singer in my church's praise & worship team for years so that I have experienced personally.

In overall this is a super lovely project. Mbeu also shows a lot of traits and elements he learnt and/or borrowed from the late Dr Oliver Mtukudzi on this project. Also as you listen to this album you can see why no-one protested when Mbeu was selected to perform with the Black Spirits on the various Tuku Commemoration gigs. With this project Mbeu is no longer a rising talent but rather he is now  the leading act in the Afro jazz, Afro fusion artist in the country. Have enjoyed this album a lot and will definitely recommend it to anyone looking for some good music. It has removed Hope Masike's Dreams of Dande as my favourite project of the year.

My Overall Rating: 9/10

What are your thoughts on the album???

Proud_Zimbo