Album Review: Alick Macheso & Orchestra Mberikwazvo - Dzinosvitsa Kure

The legendary guitarist Alick Macheso or Ba Sharo as he is affectionately known has released his much anticipated 11th album Dzinosvitsa Kure. This album serves as a follow up to his last album Tsoka Dzerwendo (Tsoka Dzerwendo Album Review) which was released back in 2016. The Album has been gathering hype ever since it was announced he was working on a new album and the live show snippets where he was performing the new songs also helped give his fans a glimpse of what's to come. 

Macheso reached his low point a couple of years back when he was embroiled in the Tafadzwa scandal and his music to a major hit. During that period he released what I believe is his worst album to date Kwatabva Mitunhu. Since then he has been trying to regain his maestro touch and many years later it seems he has finally found his touch. His last album Tsoka Dzerwendo was an average album, it was not what many expected, we all know he could do much much better.

Fast forward two years from Tsoka Dzerwendo we get a new album and for the first time in nearly 10 years we get to experience a Macheso who is at peace, there has been no scandals in the past 3 years, he is playful and enjoying his work. So have listened to this album religiously these past since wednesday when it was released and I'm ready to share my views and thoughts on the new project.

The album contains 6 tracks and will be doing a track review as usual: 

1. Pfuma Yacho

On this track Ba Sharo is talking about the issue yekuromba, sacrificing your family members so that you get to be rich. He is saying now that you're rich you have no-one to spend the money with, you have no kids left to leave the legacy for, you have no-one to take care of you when your not feeling well so what do those riches actually benefit you. He also goes on to encourage people to work hard as it's much sweeter and fulfilling to enjoy the benefits of you hard work. Love the intro of this song, and the overall instrumental arrangement is done very well. In terms of the vocals this track has arguably the best vocals on the whole album, the way they are structured gave me a serious nostalgic vibe, they remind me of the good old days of sungura, Ba Sharo really brought back his yesteryear form. 

2. Madzitete

On this track Ba Sharo is talking about the need for aunts in nurturing us the young people on how to address certain issues in families. Traditionally aunties are the buffers between children and parents on certain issues and if they are not present the children will end up handling/addressing certain matters in ways that will cause rifts/conflicts between them and their parents. This is sound advice despite the fact that we are now living in a modern era whereby the tete role is being bypassed many times as many are adopting the 21st century culture of being free to say anything to one's parents. The production is done well, the instrumental arrangement is done very very well. The guitar part from 10:03 till the end is a slice of heaven, my goodness, I cannot seem to have enough of it.

3. Kudzwai

This is my early favourite and its also the longest track on the album, going on for 15mins!!. On the track Macheso is talking about the amazing love we get from the Almighty, he has loved all of us regardless of our past, looks or appearance. He goes on to say for the love, favour and grace that you show upon us you deserve to be exhalted. It's a very good gospel song, the lyrics really strike a chord and make one grateful, indeed inosvitsa kure like the title implies. The instrumental is also at par with the theme and vocals, its structured very well. Its entertaining an sounds so good to the extend that you forget how long the track is!!. Ba Sharo gave everyone in the band time to shine and it works,  the Noel Nyazanda solo part takes the cherry though, its done very well. The playfullness from Macheso is highlighted by what he will be doing with the bass during Noel's solo part, superb. This is one of those songs that just prove to you why Macheso is regarded as a legend in the music game, its a awesome jam. 

4. Ndakakutadzirei

Rhumba and Sungura have always been intertwined, they are all based on a similar platform with subtle differences and this track capitalizes on that, it starts on a rhumba tip and then switches to the sungura we know and love as the track goes. The overall production is done well, the vocals and instrumental arrangement are both on point. On the track Macheso is saying you can identify someone by their works (action) and attitude, you can see who is a farmer judging by their produce, you can see who is a carpenter by looking at his products, one cannot pretend to be a farmer when there is no produce to back it up. More-so you can also see those who love you by their actions towards you, same as for those who despise you.  

5. Vane Zvavanoda 

On this track Macheso is saying you do not know why a person loves their partner, their car, that thing or that as they do so you should not interfere and tell them what to do.  It's more like telling people to mind their own business, you cannot understand what goes on in one's mind so don't be going around telling people what to do. The instrumental like every other track on the album is spot on and will definitely get people on the dancefloor.

6. Chikuru Kurarama

This track shows how Macheso is in touch with the happening in today's society. There has been a significant rise in cases of domestic violence all over the country and some of it is because some couples despite seeing that the relationship is not working they hold on because in many families and churches it's seen as taboo to leave your marriage. Ba Sharo is advising such couples that if you have tried everything and it's still not working it's okay to leave, there is no need to continue suffering abuse when you can leave and have a better life elsewhere, one should treasure their life (Chikuru Kurarama). A friend of mine and collaborator on this blog said this song reminds him of the early 2000's Macheso and he was not wrong. The track has that magic of his early days. The arrangement of the vocals and instruments is done very well, making one entertaining and powerful track.

So that's it for the track by track review and in summary I have enjoyed listening to this album a lot. From the first listen you will undoubtedly know this is way better than his last album. In the intro I said Macheso is at peace, playful and enjoying himself and the benefits of that are showing all over the album, it all combines to make one entertaining album. 

In terms of the themes Macheso was at his usual best, even on his lesser albums the themes were never a problem. I always say Ba Sharo is the best when it comes to singing about family dynamics and I still stand by that. Tracks such as Madzitete and Chikuru Kurarama address vital issues that many families can benefit from. In overall when it comes to themes I have no complaints.

Whenever we mention Alick Macheso most attention shifts to the instrumentals. When people complained about his albums it was not about themes as I previously stated but it was always about the instrumentals. On this album that part has improved a lot, the instrumental arrangements are done well and the tracks are sounding good. The guitar riffs on Madzitete are heavenly, the guitar riffs on Chikuru Kurarama are captivating, the Noel solo on Kudzwai is superb coupled with Macheso's  super bass riffs...in summary have enjoyed all the instrumentals. Ba Sharo stuck to his guns, he utilized his strengths (bass & lead guitar), he did not wander away from his strengths and that paid off greatly. 

The production as I have been narrating above has be done quite well however its not a perfect album, I have a few probably minor complaints: Firstly there is a certain smoothness lacking from the album, comparing it with his earlier projects you get to hear the differences, his new studio cannot match the sound quality from the world class recording institutions that dominated way back then, his sound engineer needs to improve on that.  Also because of that the tracks are a bit loud in some cases and the vocals could be a bit better. Lastly wished Macheso had made amends with Lucky Mubiriki and engaged him on the rhythm guitar but regardless the person in charge of the rhythm guitar did a commendable job.

In conclusion this album signals that Macheso's touch is back, as you have seen there aren't any major flaws with this album. In the buildup to the album was just hoping we get to see the Ba Sharo of the old and that's exactly what we got. Sungura may not be at the top anymore but as long Ba Sharo is alive it will not die. Its not his best ever project, Simbaradzo still owns that throne, I don't think it's top 4 either (will see in time) there are albums like Zvakanaka Zvakadaro, Vakiridzo & Zvido Zvenyu Kunyanya which it has to surpass first but regardless of all that, this is a pretty damn good project and I highly recommend it. It's now currently the best album I have listened to and reviewed in 2018.

My Overall rating is : 8.5/10.

What are your thoughts on the album???

Proud_Zimbo