Album Review: Oliver Mtukudzi - Eheka Nhai Yahwe
The legendary artists Oliver "Samanyanga" Mtukudzi has released his 65th album, 65th, 65th!!!!!!!!. That's an amazing feat. Now on a personal level the last Mtukudzi album I enjoyed was Wonai in 2006, all the others that followed (Tsimba Itsoka, Dairai, Rudaviro, Kutsi Kwemoyo, Abi Angu, Saraoga and Mukombe wemvura) did not do it for me, they failed to excite me or leave a lasting memory. My favoutite Tuku album is Paivepo if you were wondering. My expectations on this album are quite low but it may surprise me...so lets see how its fares.
The album contains 12 tracks and will be doing a track by track review below:
1. Asina Ndiani
Lovely instrumental, the guitar work is good, bass line is simple but on point. Tuku gave his signature vocal performance, yes its still the same old Tuku Zim fell in love with. The track urges people to respect each other as we are all human and born of woman. Despite all our physical differences we are all human and should respect one another. All in all its a nice track, you will find yourself singing along as the track goes. Nice track.
2. Dzikama Wakura
A redo of one of his classics. Love the original a lot and this track had a lot to live up to. The instrumental was not changed that much, its still the instrumental I love. The notable changes came on the vocals, they added more lines to the chorus. In overall the changes are okay, someone may not even notice them. The track is sounding good but if I am to chose, would still chose the original version, its more raw.
A redo of one of his classics. Love the original a lot and this track had a lot to live up to. The instrumental was not changed that much, its still the instrumental I love. The notable changes came on the vocals, they added more lines to the chorus. In overall the changes are okay, someone may not even notice them. The track is sounding good but if I am to chose, would still chose the original version, its more raw.
3. Pa Bodzi
This track is laced with some lovely traditional drum work. The structure of the track is a bit different from the usual mellow Tuku, it has a strong Jit vibe. It will get a lot of people on the dancefloor and will be a favourite on live shows. The instrumental in overall is sounding good. On the track they are saying we all have different talents and skills so there is no need to force things, concentrate on your talent. Trying to force things will just waste your time and disrupt others. The vocal performance is standard. Nice Jam.
This track is laced with some lovely traditional drum work. The structure of the track is a bit different from the usual mellow Tuku, it has a strong Jit vibe. It will get a lot of people on the dancefloor and will be a favourite on live shows. The instrumental in overall is sounding good. On the track they are saying we all have different talents and skills so there is no need to force things, concentrate on your talent. Trying to force things will just waste your time and disrupt others. The vocal performance is standard. Nice Jam.
4. Hunhapwa
From the title one will know this will be an emotional and sad jam. The keyboard and saxophone create that serious, emotional feel to the track. The whole instrumental is mellow. Tuku also toned down his voice to best portray the emotions required by the theme, the backing vocalists were also on point. Many people these days are living like slaves, slaves to our families, employers, neighbors...etc. Freedom is truly hard to come by in this life. Given the current economic situations a lot of us surely feel like slaves. Powerful track.
From the title one will know this will be an emotional and sad jam. The keyboard and saxophone create that serious, emotional feel to the track. The whole instrumental is mellow. Tuku also toned down his voice to best portray the emotions required by the theme, the backing vocalists were also on point. Many people these days are living like slaves, slaves to our families, employers, neighbors...etc. Freedom is truly hard to come by in this life. Given the current economic situations a lot of us surely feel like slaves. Powerful track.
5. Dzivirira
This track has a lively, hopeful kind of vibe and it has some superb guitar work, the guy on lead was awesome here, applause to him. The vocal perfomance was standard till the last part of the track, the "hovhorosi, magirovhosi" part did not sound as smooth to me and that kind of killed the vibe for me. Tuku is urging workers to always follow safety precaution measures and protect themselves to harm at the workplaces.
6. Bhiza Ra Mambo ft Hugh Masekela
The intro is superb, the saxophone work is heavenly, coupled with the guitars this is one of the best intros on the album. The overall instrumental arrangement is fantastic and its sounding awesome. The bass is on point, the drum work is sublime, the saxophone is on point...superb instrumental. The guitar work from 04:48-05:20 oooooh Lord. Tuku was also at par vocally, he did justice to the track. He is urging people to pray when thing are going tough, for prayer is the only way we can communicate with the Almighty. However the prayer and bhiza/horse analogy is escaping me, someone help me there!!. Despite that the instrumental is too good for any analogy to ruin it for me, even if there were no vocals this would remain probably the best track on the album.
The intro is superb, the saxophone work is heavenly, coupled with the guitars this is one of the best intros on the album. The overall instrumental arrangement is fantastic and its sounding awesome. The bass is on point, the drum work is sublime, the saxophone is on point...superb instrumental. The guitar work from 04:48-05:20 oooooh Lord. Tuku was also at par vocally, he did justice to the track. He is urging people to pray when thing are going tough, for prayer is the only way we can communicate with the Almighty. However the prayer and bhiza/horse analogy is escaping me, someone help me there!!. Despite that the instrumental is too good for any analogy to ruin it for me, even if there were no vocals this would remain probably the best track on the album.
7. Tamba Tamba
From one awesome instrumental to another. This redo is sounding very good, love the traditional feel this track has. It reminds you of the Ziwerere days, the instrumental arrangement is very very good. The awesome vibe and feeling carries on to the vocals, Tuku is energetic and having fun, the backing vocals are on point. The track will get you on the dancefloor in no time. Bhiza RaMambo shows probably the future of Tuku's sound and this on is a slice of the past, a reminder of why Tuku is as respected as he is today.
From one awesome instrumental to another. This redo is sounding very good, love the traditional feel this track has. It reminds you of the Ziwerere days, the instrumental arrangement is very very good. The awesome vibe and feeling carries on to the vocals, Tuku is energetic and having fun, the backing vocals are on point. The track will get you on the dancefloor in no time. Bhiza RaMambo shows probably the future of Tuku's sound and this on is a slice of the past, a reminder of why Tuku is as respected as he is today.
8. Chori neVamwe
This track is lively and has a happy mood all over it and the instrumental in overall is sounding good. The track is about having a good time, family braai's, friends braai, church youth braai...etc. The vocal performances are lovely from both Tuku and the backing vocalists. Nice jam.
This track is lively and has a happy mood all over it and the instrumental in overall is sounding good. The track is about having a good time, family braai's, friends braai, church youth braai...etc. The vocal performances are lovely from both Tuku and the backing vocalists. Nice jam.
9. Ndinecha
The intro of this track reminds me of Mai Varamba, one of my all time favourite from him. The instrumental is mellow and sounding good. The guitar work is awesome. This track is Tuku's prayer and ultimate gratitude to all those who have stood by him, prayed and interceded for him in his life. He is saying he cannot thank them enough and wishes the best for them. This will be a favourite with his fans, everyone wants to be appreciated. Tuku gave a passionate vocal performance, the backing vocals are okay but I feel they were too mellow, a little more punch would have been awesome from them. Regardless is a lovely track.
The intro of this track reminds me of Mai Varamba, one of my all time favourite from him. The instrumental is mellow and sounding good. The guitar work is awesome. This track is Tuku's prayer and ultimate gratitude to all those who have stood by him, prayed and interceded for him in his life. He is saying he cannot thank them enough and wishes the best for them. This will be a favourite with his fans, everyone wants to be appreciated. Tuku gave a passionate vocal performance, the backing vocals are okay but I feel they were too mellow, a little more punch would have been awesome from them. Regardless is a lovely track.
10. Masanga Bodo ft Daisy
This is a lovely track from Husband and Wife. The instrumental is mellow and sounding lovely, the keyboard work is done very well here. On this track the two lovebirds are saying it was not by luck that they met but it was fate, they were meant to meet. Its not by luck that you're who you are, it was meant to be. Lovely jam.
This is a lovely track from Husband and Wife. The instrumental is mellow and sounding lovely, the keyboard work is done very well here. On this track the two lovebirds are saying it was not by luck that they met but it was fate, they were meant to meet. Its not by luck that you're who you are, it was meant to be. Lovely jam.
11. Kusateerera
This track is chilled and mellow and has some lovely saxophone work. Its a track that will be perfect for an acoustic set. Tuku seems to have taken inspiration from the verse in Hosea (4v6) which says"...my people perish because for lack of knowledge...". Tuku is saying people nowadays do not listen, are full of pride and that's leading to a lot of problems. So he is crying out to the Lord asking him to lead the people because the stubbornness and hardheaded nature is leading to their downfall. Powerful. Tuku gave a strong vocal perfomance, one can feel the concern and passion in the vocals. The backing vocalist were also at par. Powerful Jam.
This track is chilled and mellow and has some lovely saxophone work. Its a track that will be perfect for an acoustic set. Tuku seems to have taken inspiration from the verse in Hosea (4v6) which says"...my people perish because for lack of knowledge...". Tuku is saying people nowadays do not listen, are full of pride and that's leading to a lot of problems. So he is crying out to the Lord asking him to lead the people because the stubbornness and hardheaded nature is leading to their downfall. Powerful. Tuku gave a strong vocal perfomance, one can feel the concern and passion in the vocals. The backing vocalist were also at par. Powerful Jam.
12. Hadzivake
The lead guitar strum and progression on this track is similar to the one used by a lot of gospel tracks. From the onset I could feel the distinct gospel vibe, definitely not an instrumental I expected from Tuku. The vocal performances are okay. On this track he is saying jealousy will never build you anything, it however destroys. He is urging people to have love. The theme is okay but the instrumental just does not do it for me.
The lead guitar strum and progression on this track is similar to the one used by a lot of gospel tracks. From the onset I could feel the distinct gospel vibe, definitely not an instrumental I expected from Tuku. The vocal performances are okay. On this track he is saying jealousy will never build you anything, it however destroys. He is urging people to have love. The theme is okay but the instrumental just does not do it for me.
Overall production is standard, the tracks are well balanced and sounding crisp. The instrumental arrangement is okay, it's signature Tuku. The themes are also balanced and deep, that's one thing you definitely expect from Samanyanga. The vocal performance is standard. However despite pulling all the stops in production the album lack the early 2000's magic, it offers nothing new. After 65 albums there are no more surprises Tuku can pull on us and that is why his previous albums have not been doing it for me. I cannot perfectly point out where the magic is lacking because in a way its still distinctively Tuku but I can feel kuti there is no wow factor at all. This album is okay but after weeks of listening, no track has stuck with me, i'm already back to playing his old albums.
Regardless of my low interest in the album, there are tracks that caught my attention, most notable is Bhiza Ramambo, the analogy still beats me but the instrumental is superb, other tracks are Tamba Tamba , Ndinecha & Kusateerera. My least favourite tracks are: Hadzivake & Dzivirira.
Proud Zimbo Rating: C (65%)
What are your thoughts on the album??
Proud_Zimbo
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