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Various artists: Congo Funk! review – get ready to rumba
This sparkling time capsule of Congolese rumba from 1969 to 1982 features homegrown melody and soul with James Brown’s electrifying funk influence
However, rumba received an electrifying jolt when James Brown visited Kinshasa as part of the circus surrounding the 1974 heavyweight title fight between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali, the “ rumble in the jungle ”. Brown’s influence – stark beats, crazed exhortations – is clear on cuts such as Lolo Soulfire by singer Lola, Trio Bydoli’s Lalia, or the eight minutes of rolling funk on opener Sungu Lubuka. Homegrown traditions were not easily displaced: Tabu Ley Rochereau, a major star, delivers a lilting, seductive piece, Adeito, and while GO Malebo’s Fiancée Laya has a soul music groove, the delicacy of its vocals lies elsewhere.
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