Reviews (page 4 of 8)
It's fine for what it is. Not really my thing.
Close harmonies, who needs Graceland?
Sweet, perfect harmonies. I don't feel that I'm best placed to "judge" it or that that would be a good idea, but it is sweet. Some themes are love themes. This wraps around and is friendly music to flow into the ears. Slightly ASMR before that name came about! The voice compositions are so skillful and perfect.
More admirable than interesting. The technical skill required to sing in close harmony like this is astounding (especially without accompaniment) but the material itself isn't compelling - the songs seem to blend together over the course of the record.
Great music to wind down. Very soothing. Also fun fact: it's the group that Lindsay Lohan's parents go to see when she throws the house party in the movie Mean Girls!
Very annoying.
Great drum fills
Wooow, this was really beautiful. The lyrics felt really wholesome (the ones i did uneratand). I didn't even notice that it was acapella until my boyfriend pointed that out after i had finished the whole album and that was a good excuse to play it again 😏😏😏
Hello My Baby is adorable with the kiss sounds. Really pleasant album and loved hearing songs with clicks.
Many years from now (hopefully), lying on my deathbed, listening to my 1001 albums playlist, after confusedly asking the nurse who The Thrills and Flamin' Groovies were, something from this album will come on. I'll settle back in bed, smile and in that moment be genuinely happy. A worthy entry into the '1001 Albums to Listen to While You Die' list. Wait...that isn't what we are doing? Anyway, thanks for feeding me something different, generator!
paul simon produced - very cool
Loved this. It's the sort of album you just put on and fall into. When the last track ended I was disappointed there was no more.
- this is the first instance of non-western music this project has given me, which is fun, and I hope there are more albums like this included in the list - my first exposure to this group was from the movie Mean Girls, when the mom says "but you love Ladysmith Black Mambazo!" when the main character (who grew up in Africa and only recently moved to the US) declines to go with her parents to a concert so she can hold a wild house party instead. at the time, I assumed it was a single woman, so learning it was a men's chorus instead was delightful - the live version from KEXP on YouTube is a better way to understand this group, I think. the Wikipedia page said that the name of this vocal tradition means something like "walking softly" or "stepping lightly," which is partly due to the soft sound of their voices but also refers to some light steps or dancing that takes place, so I wanted to find a live version to see if it was a different experience than just listening. I didn't notice any real "dancing" (maybe some arm movements from the soloist), but I think seeing them actually sing together is the better context - the background vocals almost sound like waves lapping on a shore (especially in tracks like "Wawusho Kubani") in that they swell and recede over and over again, coming up and then almost fading away - I like that the solo vocalists never have overly stylized voices. the solo parts are emphasized and accent the choral parts, but the singers never have super strong voices that are meant to be the highlight, unlike in gospel music from the US. everyone feels more or less equal; it's just who's at the microphone filling in the spaces the chorus doesn't take up overall, a pleasant listen. they all started to sound the same after a while and everything is mostly variations around a single chord, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing
Took me quite a bit to realize there were no instruments and I didn't miss it at all. Just a couple guys and their voice and hands.
This album was very nice to listen to. It's also nice to know a good thing came from Paul Simon's Graceland.
Solid. Not really a huge fan of acappella music, but this was just nice and calm and kinda meditative. Everything kinda blended together, but two that stood out were How Long and Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain. Probably won't revisit this one much but I'm glad I checked it out and might throw it on again for the vibes sometime. 6/10, 3 stars.
Basically everything to know is summed up in the opening line of the wikipedia page where it says "a cappella group" It's pleasant and listenable, but it doesn't really change up much or do anything to interest me
Fine, but really not my thing
Nice harmonies but overall a dull novelty album.
Really loved this today.
Cool album but it’s a lot in one sitting.
Loved this
Can hear Paul Simon on production for this. Strong, emotion with a great rhythm
I was very impressed by this album and it’s something I’m probably going to listen to again from harmonising your vocals to a majority acappella throughout the album with something fresh and new one at the end really nice. Would give it a four but I need to be stricter with stars as it’ll mean it’s on the same band as Stanktonia
cool acappella
All I knew about Ladysmith Black Mambazo was from Mean Girls - and I'm so happy I finally listened! It's a gorgeous album but could do with a bit more variety to get to that 5.
Not for me
They say "Te na na" a lot. I wonder what that means? Bloody lovely though.
Paso
Really not sure how to rate this one. Generally not a fan of any acapella styles and I think there's a limit for how long I could keep listening to this leader/harmony response style over and over again. But the album doesn't overstay its welcome, and those harmonies are breathtaking. I'll take the over.
Really fun to listen to. I know nothing about this kind of music so it’s hard to judge so all I can say is I enjoyed it,
Did not find all the songs. Very good music from what was on spotify
Influents en la world music però escoltant dues cançons n'hi ha suficient.
Beautiful, nuanced singing. Calming. Can be a bit monotonous and could be more dynamic and exploratory
Not for me. I remember folks getting very excited about this in the 90s and even then finding it a bit meh
I thought this was super interesting
3,2
Chilled
Perhaps I should have let this one steep for a bit, but I found it totally lacklustre.
Playing catch-up, and what a fantastic album to get back on track... Again, I'm a sucker for harmonization and this is a beautiful example of using vocal blends as an instrument. HOW LONG and YIBO LABO really stick out for me.
Exceeded expectations
This was quite fun. Now I get the reference from Mean Girls
Музыка: 7/10 Разнообразие: 4/10 Тематика и вайб: 7/10 Цепляемость (отдельные песни зашли): 4/10 Реиграбельность (можно ли рандомно врубить на фон): 7/10 Итог: 5.8
Originally Paul Simon’s band, they were frustrated that they only got to play the intro to all of his songs and always back stage. That was until they joined Len Houmous on one of his famous LSD trips. It gave them the confidence to not only split away and do their own thing but also to really focus on those harmonies. 2.6 9/10 - Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain
Very nice album. It's not the type of music that I use to listen, but it's really great. I think I'll listen to this kind of music more.
This record is at its best when the group is providing unique perspectives on Folk songs and political events; however, covers of American gospel songs and attitudes are scattered throughout and while not a bad thing seem to distract from the otherwise profound nature of the record
As much as I've heard LBM I've never been able to sink my teeth into their music. Obviously, it's fantastic stuff but lacks an edge I need to love what I'm listening to.
An extension of Graceland I didn't know about? Yes, please.
this was very very pleasant. I enjoyed this very much.
Boring, not my thing
This is the type of thing I was hoping for when I started this project. It’s beautiful.
Soothing tunes
Not my thing but easy to listen to, I think not knowing what they are saying helped me focus on the arrangement and harmonies so it was enjoyable.
7/10
Potentially good music, just not my taste.
Enjoyable, but certainly not in my wheelhouse.
Right up my street - love choral groups.
Shaka Zulu I listened to this A LOT last week. I had an unusually busy week at work and it was a perfect soundtrack, I was happy to let it go round and round with its lovely sense of warm, floating ambience, but it also rewarded the times I could listen more closely. Obviously for the most part I don’t know what they are singing about, but I prefer not knowing, I just loved letting its peaceful serenity and moments of apparent melancholy slide gracefully by. Maybe there’s an element of Heinz and Paul Simon based nostalgia, but without this list I likely wouldn’t have listened to this, and I would really have missed out. Peaceful, joyful, otherworldly, soothing, I loved this and its an easy 5. 🧘🧘🧘🧘🧘 Playlist submission: Golgotha
A pleasure to listen to when unadorned with saccharine Disney strings and some squeaking 10 year old girl pretending to be a baby fucking lion. I always thought it was Lady Blacksmith Mambazo. Whilst their aptitude for metallurgy (the first appearance of this word in the album reviews) is unproven, their ability to sing a capella with absolute perfection is second to none. And that includes The Flying Pickets. The silence is as important as the vocals themselves. To say they are a one-trick pony is like telling Michael Flatley enough with the jig all the time and to do some breakdancing. But the fact is, as a document of traditional folk music, it sounds very uniform; variations on a theme. It takes many listens to pick out individual tracks. The listener's concentration drifts. But the whole thing resonates, and is eminently listenable. One may say it resonates through the ear drums and through the ages.
It's really good. Would I listen to this all the time? Probably not but I'll through it on sometimes
This is an impeccable album and the 36min runtime is exactly the right length. I didn’t enjoy this as much as I did Youssou N’Dour, but that’s just my personal taste.
73% Best: Hello Pretty Girl; Golgotha; Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain Must-Hear? Not quite. The album is very decent. I can't really justify listening to a full album of this style, but it is very well put together and sounds nice.
This was unique, mostly a capella. I enjoyed listening to it but it isn't something I'd really relisten to.
kinda sick
Really pleasant. Loved the harmonies and recording quality
Brilliant, peaceful album. I listened to it in work but I will make a point of giving it another listen in a more relaxed environment.
So soothing and exotic. Like sitting under a palm tree and drinking a cool drink, Ladysmith Black Mambazo overtakes you like a dream in a hammock. But after a while, I got a little tired of it.
it's very nice to listen to, but i feel like i have to be in a particular mood for it.
pretty cool Will I listen to again: 2%
Well, that was fun. I listened to about 3 songs before giving it the boot. As an album, I give it a no. I may be able to throw one song in my listening queue, but any more than that and I just Can't.
2 the vocal layering sounded magical. however, the entire project did sound similar throughout. i would recommend this album to someone who wants to hear amazing vocals.
Kind of a vibe. New genre of music for me
One of those perfectly pleasant jolly albums that there’s nothing to hate but no reason at all to listen to.
Very nice, especially when cleaning the kitchen
Peaceful vibe, beautiful singing, very well produced.
This is some beautiful music. Only previous exposure to LBM was through some of Paul Simon's Graceland and this can stand on its own too. Would probably be even more prolific if I could understand the language but an enjoyable listen. Unsure if/when I'll listen again though. 6.5/10 (3.25/5)
excellent stuff
Really good album and you can see where Paul Simon and the talking heads got there special singers from.
Pure joy. Wonderful album.
This was fine, I'm not a big Acapella person especially for an entire album.
A very interesting album that did not hold my attention throughout. Much preferred the collaboration of Ladysmith and Paul Simon. Incredible talent that failed to stir.
Very good work background. African tribal chanting; very melodious.
Great harmonies. Glad I got to listen to this. It’s outside of my traditional listening genres.
This makes me feel like a middle aged white woman who shops at Anthropologie
Such a beautiful, pleasant listen. Perfect calming effect on your mood. The harmonies just wash over your brain. 4/5
Paul must've been stuck in traffic or something, but they did fine without him.
Something that would have never come across my radar otherwise. This was really pleasant and calming. Audio version of a laying outside on a sunny day basking in the suns warmth.
Not for me.
8/8/25. Loved this. It's nice to be exposed to acapella music from a different part of the world. Very soulful and meaningful, loved the rhythm aspects as well. Definitely going to check out the rest of the catalog.
mi piace
4.5 - Quite moving tbh
Honestly this was just really quite boring without Paul Simon doing something on top of it... that's the sad colonial truth for me. 2.6/5
Truly beautiful voices, individually and collectively. They must have been amazing to see and hear performing in a location with great acoustics, a church or something. There's such warmth and humanity. It's no surprise Paul Simon was drawn to them. In some ways it's sad that they are best known for Graceland but he brought them to the attention of the world. Lovely.
Liked the vocal harmonies. Good to listen to something I never normally would have before. The a capella style was cool but some instrumentation would’ve elevated it.
I remember hearing LBM on the radio in the 80s and enjoying the sound; I still enjoyed them today. Voices blending into a peaceful sea of sound (okay, I stole that from one of the top reviews - but yes). Also uplifting, and reassuring.
Bought and played this to death at Uni, it brought back some lovely memories and sounds as good now as it did then.
It had fun moments but a full 36 minutes of a capella was a little tough to sit through.
Graceland is one of my all time favorite albums so this was pretty sweet
It my thing but Rain Rain Beautiful Rain is cool
Beautiful production, but not something I would ever just pop on and listen to.
To listen to with good pro headphones was really amazing. The sound spacing and mixing is truly incredible. And with NO instruments ! Nothing to say other than bravo. 10/10 fav songs : How Long ? & Yibo Labo
Interesting but only a couple of songs that connected for me.
I bet this would be great to experience in person. On a streaming service, it's background pleasant uplifting harmonies that miss some of that human connection.
I enjoyed this one.
This is a GREAT album. My favorite LBM album is Thuthukani Ngoxolo, but this is another fantastic album! Won Grammy in 1988 for Best Folk Recording Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs (It's hard to pick them - they're ALL great) Unomathemba Hello My Baby King of Kings Lomhlaba Kawunoni How Long Yibo Labo Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain This Little Light of Mine (bonus track on 30th anniversary edition)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: 13/1001 Don't take this rating seriously. The album didn't captivate me like Songhoy Blues did. Being in a foreign language with a acapella sound just doesn't connect with me, though the beginning tracks certainly weren't anything worth skipping. The groups vocals harmonize well, but the music is just fine overall. I'll give Shaka Zulu by Ladysmith Black Mambazo 2/5 stars with that in mind.
That's not my taste in music - But ok
Good album.
Beautiful music and like nothing else on this list (except their contributions to Graceland) but gets a bit boring after a while.
Great harmony and vocals. Not my vibe
This album reminded me of the Lion King. It was beautiful.
They're clearly very talented. It's just not for me. I learned that today, and thats a positive takeaway for my personal knowledge.
It is easy to see why Paul Simon was so take with the world sounds of African music. This album sounds amazing and draws you in even if you don't understand the lyrics. Captivating!
Immaculately produced with the luscious voices of the choir. It makes the songs quote accessible and very easy to listen to.
i respect the culture and can imagine this album did a lot of its genre but it’s not to my taste. also didn’t know these guys were on graceland
Stars for being different from the dad rock that we normally get. That said, I was hoping to like this a lot more than I actually did. It was a bit boring.
Presented by Paul Simon's savoir complex
The vocal group that featured on Paul Simon’s Graceland. Has a lovely chanting feel to the music. Quite different to the western music I’m used to, but still a very pleasant sound.
I'm very happy that such unique music on the list. Didn't really like it, though.
This was an absolutely lovely listen. Such passion, heart, and love. Easy 5 stars.
Did not like it. But it was interesting.
I get it, but it doesn't turn me on or get me moving.
Beautiful vocals.
Not sure how to rate this one. Good for what it is but not something I really enjoy listening to?
Ladysmith Black Mambazo Shaka Zulu I know almost nothing about them. Were they the inspiration for Paul Simon’s Graceland? Maybe the backing band? Unomathemba- it will be interesting to see what I can pick up from this album- jazz and classical don't have lyrics at all, but if their are lyrics, should I know what they mean? Hello My Baby- the title is in the chant, but I am still working on the lead singer; is this an a capella? Golgotha- for some reason I thought there was a more instrumental element to their music, but it is still beautiful King of Kings- is there a difference Lomhlaba Kawunoni How Long? Ikhaya Lamaqhawe (Home Of The Heroes) Yibo Labo (These Are The Guys) Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain Wawusho Kubani? (Who Were You Talking To?) This Little Light of Mine- the most iconic Sunday School song is given a beautiful gravity and maturity, while still being perfect for children After listening: so many beautiful voices- I'm not sure this is "got a long drive in the car" music, but it could be perfect for 10PM and reading a book. I think the whole thing is a capella, which is not normally a thing I enjoy. Probably 3.5 stars, but four stars is more for albums I will buy.
We enjoyed this one. Quite chilled and easy listening.
Really like the call and response, and the harmonies are great, but it all tends to blend together and feel way longer than the 36 minutes it is. On the other hand, I had to listen to all the songs on Youtube and got ads between most of them which probably didn't help, so I'll give them an extra star and benefit of the doubt on that.
Very sweet and unique sound, definitely deserves its place on this list
Lion king choir style music. Short and to the point
Sounds like the intros of many of the Lion King songs, but without ever getting off the ground, perpetually staying in the state of intro, leaving you to want them to finally progress, or stop.
A very pretty record; their voices are so rich, sometimes raspy achey, sometimes soaring, plus the interlocking parts of many of the songs are kind of amazing. Really good, if not great.
Had a bunch of editing to do. This matched my mood perfectly. Always had listened to Ladysmith on the perimeter, but never a deep dive. Had great appreciation for this album, but probably will not revisit anytime soon.
There were some moments when I got really into this, but other times I lost the plot. That might be partly a lack of cultural context on my part.
What a gorgeous album, crisply produced and the most accessible of their albums. It’s probably why it launched them more internationally than being Paul Simon’s background singers. I believe I’ve even seen them live, and I don’t get to many concerts.
There are some really stunning moments ("Golgotha" being my favorite) and while I don't know how this would ever fit into a regular rotation of music for me, I sincerely appreciated listening to it. Also, I didn't know the connection between this album and Paul Simon's Graceland. Hearing them so close to each other thanks to this project did admittedly make me appreciate Graceland a little more in hindsight, or at least appreciate Paul Simon championing them.
Beautiful but... lacking that one track that I could really sink my teeth into
Gospel/chorus like. Very hypnotic. Good for concentration or just for background noise. Not for everyone! 3/5
I liked the authentic sound of this.
Y'know, as much as I'd wanna write a 400+ word review like I normally do, I don't think I'd be able to with an album like this. There's really not much to comment on: it's just South African acapella music and it is damn incredible. Like, I figure some people would hear "acapella music" and figure it's some dumb Pentatonix or PITCH PERFECT nonsense, but no, no, don't worry about that at all. This is a spiritual choir thing, and while it **can** get a little repetitive in some parts, that's hardly an issue. This is music to envelop yourself in, where you just float along and let the vocals and harmonies fill your brain. Get it all in your mind fuzz, y'know? And to someone with an attention span like mine, it **can** cause my mind to wander — and I won't lie, there's some mouth sounds in there that I'm not a huge fan of, even as much as I understand that they're just a part of isicathamiya (the style of singing being done here) — but I'm not gonna dock the album points for that. I already knew this group did good stuff 'coz of their cameo in the credits of Michael Jackson's MOONWALKER singing "The Moon Is Walking", but I never woulda guessed how amazing a full album of their style would be. Jus', mm, dang; it's a huge rec from me, even if I know not everyone's gonna like it. I mean, it's already the best thing I've gotten out of Paul Simon's GRACELAND album, so, y'know.
Harmonies on this one are stellar. 4.5 bumped down to 4.
I’m at a 5. Not too much to say, given that I mostly zoned out to this in the most positive way: that is 100% 42 minutes of South African acapella, and I enjoyed all 42 minutes. Easy as that, really. A lot of the harmonizations gave the album a more spiritual tone, obviously enhanced by some of the actual spirituals present here. The thing that struck me as the most interesting part of the album is how well my brain was able to use the gaps where percussion would obviously sit, taking those empty spots & just sort of using them as percussion in its own way. The group is very keenly aware of this too – there’s never ever a drum track, nor even a click track made with their mouths, but with the way they come into each rhythm, their voices go deep enough that the brain automatically fills it all in, whilst sounding totally natural. If the sense of repetition here is not your thing, this album will bounce off of you. It’s not an album made for deeper critical analysis, it’s an album to just enjoy from an auditory standpoint. I certainly enjoyed it – there’s not a bad moment here, and when they find a hypnotic groove to settle into, it’s very easy to get caught in that groove with them. It’s not the most impressive album on the planet or anything, but it’s a super fun listen, and I enjoyed it enough that giving it a 5 feels fair to me.
favorites: How Long
Ahora sí, weon. A esto me refiero cuando alego que el pelado Costello tiene demasiados discos aquí, que Joni Mitchell no debería tener más de dos, que hasta el puto Kid Rock aparece en la lista. Este es el tipo de discos que deben aparecer más.
A 3*, so I can't be accused of being racist.
Nothing really super noteworthy imo. This is not Graceland.
W sumie całkiem ciekawe, ale nie wiem czy na całą płytę. Powtarzające się po pewnym czasie, ale na pewno warte wysłuchania przynajmniej kilku utworów. 3/5
Gotta be one performative individual to enjoy this
Listened through Spotify, so I got a 30th Anniversary version. The music is simply beautiful, but because it's in a foreign language, it's hard to pick out where one song stops and the next one starts. I'm not hooked, but it's good background music. As long as the Xhosa clicks don't throw you off, because you're going to hear them. Does it belong on the list: Maybe not. I could have lived my life not hearing it. Am I glad it's on the list: Absolutely. My Rating: 3/5
I definitely appreciate the uniqueness of this and recognize the importance of capturing music from different cultures. However, I would probably never listen to this ever again. It’s just not something you pop on to jam to.
Gorgeous-sounding stuff
Enjoyed this one.
vibey
honestly the music was really lovely and the history was very nice
I think I was expecting Chaka Khan upbeat afro funk not the harmonious Chaka Zulu.
Beautiful sounds and music!
A welcome first listen; I enjoyed it and will hopefully look at more of their work. I was generally less impressed with the English speaking tracks in contrast to the Zulu tracks. Two a cappella albums in two days?
Best nice
I'm ashamed to say that all I knew of this group was actually a parody that Jimmy Fallon used to do on his old Late Night show (you know, when he was actually funny). He and the Roots would come on and do a parody of Ladysmith, which at the time I didn't get. So years later I realize that they're a real group that actually made some amazing music. Then I got this album, and everything finally fell into place. There is not doubting how beautiful the vocals on this album are. It's incredible what some of these guys can do with their voices, and the harmonies are sublime. When they really get on a roll and layer the vocals so that each section is doing something different, it's just infectious. The only knock I'd have to level at this album is that, despite the beauty of each track, it does become a little repetitive after a while. There's little variation in the arrangements, so it starts to feel like each track isn't too different from the last. I think part of this is my own cultural ignorance, but also partly true as well. On the whole, I'd be happy to listen to this album any time. It's just a joy to listen to. I really hope they aren't signing about anything awful. Four stars. Standout Tracks: Unomatemba, Lomhlaba Kawunoni (The Earth Never Gets Fat), Yibo Labo (These Are The Guys), Rain Rain Beautiful Rain, Wawusho Kubani (Who Were You Talking To)
actually really interesting.... not my typical thing, but very nice. hard to find the actual album!
Really liked it.
Great harmonies but not my thing
I appreciate the level of skill here. Not something I'll ever listen to again, but this was really well done. 3.6
Like everyone else, I really liked their contributions to Paul Simon’s Graceland album. However, by themselves I am not as much of a fan. I put this music on in the background while I worked - not disturbing, occasionally noticing a few seconds that stood out positively. And I think that's both good and bad in that it kind of all blends together. For me, a vocal album where I can’t understand the lyrics becomes beautiful ambient noise. 3⭐️
3/5
great sounds
I really wanted to like this more than I did, but ultimately it was too samesy for it to be worth a full album for me. It is really beautiful and at times the trance can absolutely overwhelm. But long stretches of this really get stuck in the trenches of the a cappella gimmick of the album. It is, admittedly, outstandingly produced. So shoutout to Paul Simon. Hard for me to pick a standout, so I'll settle somewhere between Unomathemba and Hello My Baby, depending on which language I want to listen to.
I was too immature to appreciate this album when it came out. Listening to it now, it has a very calming effect. A great collection of songs which, after listening through, I'd happily hear again.
Overall it is beautiful singing, but a cappella I can only handle so much of before I start finding myself slightly annoyed, which is what started happening the last 2 or 3 tracks. Worth checking out, but doubt I’d visit this album or the group further. 3.75 / 5
My favorite of all the African A Capella groups I have ever heard. 2.75
A very unnecessary album if we're being honest. Don't need to listen to 10 songs of straight African acapella. But it feels racist to give it a 1, so here we are. Cool that this is produced by Paul Simon though.
Very repetitive. Reminds me of the song Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes by Paul Simon, but I’m missing the part where he starts singing. I gave it a two instead of one because at least it was not instrumental and I understand it’s importance.
Only one track was available on YouTube Music, but this led to a whole day of listening to Ladysmith and other similar artists. Perhaps too overtly religious for me in some cases, and of course I don't know the language... But, this music is absolutely gorgeous.
It's nice to experience music from other cultures and less represented music but is this a must hear? it''s nice to have in the background but get's pretty repetitive and forgettable, that is why i wouldn't call it a must hear.
king of kings was a jam
I agree with the user who wrote the top comment to this album - the acapella harmonies are both beautiful and lively, and even hypnotic at times. This challenge is worth doing exactly because of albums like this. I've known Paul Simon's Graceland but I wouldn't have listened to an album by Ladysmith Black Mambazo if it wasn't on this challenge. My attention was also wandering a bit so it doesn't get a full 5-star, but nonetheless it was a great listen and a beautiful album. I'm nearing 800 albums and I think this was the first one - and it may be the only one on this challenge - which had no instrument at all, only singing. Great experience which I enjoyed a lot.
This album is a result of collaboration with Paul Simon on Graceland and is a very relaxing listen. They’re a cappella, but don’t hold that against them. This is a peaceful experience.
world, 1987 -> 2
I enjoyed the rhythm and harmonies on this album.
I like harmony but it felt overused
They sound really good, although I have no idea what they were singing half the time. Kinda all blended together though so didn’t love it. Sounded nice though.
Enjoyed the different language, tempo & overall sound. Very relaxing 3.5
2.5/5. Beautiful music, but not an album I'd put on and listen to.all the way through.
I rejoice every time I get a non-anglo album. This is lovely acapella, feels like a warm blanket. 5* Highlights: how long
but you LOVE ladysmith black mambazo!!
Wtf was that
Another one I never would've come across without the generator. I guess this was the group that collaborated on 'Graceland' and I remember coming away from that listen wanting to hear more from these singers. I did get more, and it's beautiful and hypnotizing. I actually felt at peace for a whole 46 minutes.
Just some incredibly smooth and delicate acapella world music.
This album was a follow up to Paul Simon’s Graceland, and it really shines a light on Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s South African roots. They were a huge part of what gave Graceland its rich cultural feel, and here, they get to showcase that influence in its purest form. The album is entirely vocal, with intricate harmonies and call and response patterns that bring out a deep sense of spirituality and cultural pride. Paul Simon contributed to the production, keeping the focus on the purity of the vocals and harmony driven arrangements.
2.5
Pleasant, calm
Lovely. Don't know if I'll listen again but glad I heard it and have a reference point now.
What I assume to be the traditional sounds of South Africa echoed loudly throughout the album. I could easily imagine people being gathered around and singing these songs a cappella. I admired the creativity required to create a fully a capella album, you have to find new ways to use your voice and body to create the sort of fullness you desire. My ear picked up on some of the little mouth sounds, like the smacking of lips or a lip trill, and I wondered how they decided on those effects. However entertaining, I don't think this album was anything super special to me. Many of the songs blended together, it felt like each song melted into the next. This is something I would play if I wanted an inoffensive piece of music to be in the background while I cooked or hosted people, not something that calls me back to listen again.
Don't You Meditate, Sing 1001 Albums Generator 39 (05/27/2025) Ladysmith Black Mambazo are one of the most popular African groups in the Western hemisphere. Hailing from South Africa, the Zulu vocal group are known in the West for a few things. Firstly, they are the group that Paul Simon prominently featured in his magnum opus Graceland where he aimed to explore African styles of music through the group. This was the Western world's introduction to Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Secondly, they were featured on the soundtrack for The Lion King 2, which, like the first movie, featured music from African artists doing this a capella Mbube style. Shaka Zulu, named after a 19th Century king of the Zulus, is an album released by Ladysmith Black Mambazo shortly after their prominent features on Graceland, and Paul Simon even produced it, so this was their opportunity to capitalize on their newfound popularity in the West. Here's where I let my bias show. I struggle with a capella music. While I am a sucker for a good vocal harmony, I find an entire album of nothing but that to be hard to get through, despite how pleasant it is. A few months ago, I listened to Compostela Ad Vesperas Sancto Iacobi by Ensemble Organum, which is a Gregorian Chant album, and I had the exact same issues. I will say that my enjoyment of Shaka Zulu was slightly higher than that of the Gregorian Chant, since Shaka Zulu has a very upbeat sound and relatively short songs, but I still wouldn't classify my feelings here as "enjoyment". It's a completely competent album and for what it is, it really is done quite well, but the songs all blend together to me. My favorite songs, which really just stand very slightly above the pack, are Unomathemba, Yibo Labo, and Wawusho Kubani? Unomathemba is a good introduction to the album, with its call and response structure and sliding vocal chords. Yibo Labo has an extremely catchy outro and features some extended vocal techniques that are a lot of fun. Wawusho Kubani?, which is the last song, features some in and out percussion, which feels extremely cathartic after an album that had been essentially fully a capella. Overall, even these songs that are my favorite are only a hair above the rest of the songs, or they just have some specific moment that I liked. This album feels like one big song in a way, even though the songs do have beginnings and endings. It's not bad, but similar to some other "world" music I've heard on the list, I do not think that it is a great representation of the country/region that it comes from. African music can be so much cooler than this. 2/5. Favs: Unomathemba Yibo Labo Wawusho Kubani? Least Fav: Ikhaya Lamaqhawe
So good. Even though I’m usually not a fan of a cappella music, it didn’t bother me at all here. 4.5
Its a solid four⭐️ but just because of the peace and ease I feel listening to it Im goin for a five. Its just so pleasant to listen to.
Nice and calming…maybe slightly samey
Good bath tunes
Interesting choice of an album, very unique style, I have never heard of this type of music before. Kind of like a medieval georgian chants, but much more positive in tone. Pretty cool record.
Interesting, but not something I'll probably ever come back to
This album is not my cup of tea. I can see why someone would, but I'm not that someone.
OK 2.8
Amazing!
Decent, it's never something I'd listen to daily but I really enjoy it when I do! Lots of lovely harmonies and beats. Cant go wrong.
Really nice, would defo listen again. Need to be doing nothing and just listening, but really beautiful.
Kind of calming and kind of boring, so it evens out
Singing. Only singing. 1/5
sympatoche, sans plus, bonne musique d'ambiance
ok well I got to hear wasnt bad 3/5
Deep and soulful
2.5
I kinda like this as a certain curio with their connection to Paul Simon's Graceland. But honestly it gets rather Sammy and boring as the album goes along even though I enjoy the sound. All in all I can't see myself ever returning to this, unless I listen to it in conjunction with Graceland itself. Even in that I probably wouldn't make it through the album just slightly snoozy for me 6.6/10 ★★★
Nice, but a bit repetitive in the long run, being a capella. 3 stars
This is nice, but I think there's a cap on my enjoyment of an a capella vocal group. I was into it the first couple tracks, but it definitely got pretty samey after a while and felt longer than it's 36 minute run time. 3 stars.
This is Shaka Zulu and not Chaka Khan? Chaka mad! Yep, this is not for me, Clive. I’m not really a worldy or spiritual guy and I’ve already listened to Graceland for this project. This pile of very gentle and smooth completely snoozy South African a capella sounds like sessions and outakes from Graceland that were not used because they were too boring. 2 stars.
An album that is both difficult to hate but difficult to absolutely love. The a cappella is done very well and creates a lot of depth to the point were I often didn’t even realize instrumentation was missing, but inevitably leads to many songs sounding similar. 5/10
I don't mind this being on the list at all. Sounds good enough, but I don't remember any of the songs.
1.9 2x decent enough background music but all of the sonds sounds the same more or less
It was ok. Not my style.
Of course the acapella singers are very talented. But honestly, an entire album of this music gets boring quickly.
It gave me "The Lion King" vibes, and this is definitely South Africa's female version of Boyz II Men. I just wish it had more music. Favorite Track: "Yibo Labo".
The talent it takes to sing acapella for a full album cannot be ignored even if the music isn’t necessarily my cup of tea.
Obviously ripped off Paul Simon
This is my final record! 1089! A pretty sensational coda to the list, no instrumentation, just beautiful singing. And and an album from Africa, where so very much of the music in the world has it's origins. Feels really appropriate. Anyway. What if you took the best part of a pretty meh Paul Simon album, and you made that into its own album? Really beautiful. I wonder if there are better records by them, I see there are absolutely loads. I don't listen to much choral music but absolutely love a melody and a harmony. Wonderful how a beat and a rhythm can be plucked out of nothing without a single instrument, even a drum. It's also lovely and sunny this week so this fits perfectly. I love the final track when some form of percussion (claps and stomps) at last breaks in.
Definitely think that the work here has some merit to it, but it also feels very repetitive
What a surprise, beautiful album.
So peaceful! I really enjoyed all of them (which might be because they transition so smoothly between each other.)
Not my jam.
I really enjoyed their contributions to Paul Simon's Graceland album, and this was also quite enjoyable. Not something I'd listen to every day, but you can hear the talent and how it influenced certain artists. This is another case where I wish I could give a half star rating and give this a 3.5, but this just isn't quite as strong as the albums I've rated a 4, so I have to round down. Still good though, and definitely think it's something people should listen to at least once before they die.
It's something new but not really my cup of tea
Not my jam, but for people who are into this kind of thing I can see why they would like it.
Very interesting a capella album.
Not something I would have ever listened to on my own. Glad I did
spiritual voices, swaying and moving together - resonant and moving
-alright so this isn’t terrible and it’s interesting that Paul Simon worked with them. idk I just… don’t know if I can get into it? Acapella has never really been my thing -it certainly did not help that I could not really find this on streaming and had to individually track down each song.. perhaps it soured my enjoyment -these guys have beautiful voices though I’ll give them that -Favorites are Golgotha and Wawusho Kubani
Het juiste antwoord is dat je dit 5 sterren geeft omdat je een verlicht persoon bent, waardoor je dit helemaal snapt en echt op waarde kan schatten. En je draagt ze stuk voor stuk een warm hart toe die mensen daar in Afrika, het vergeten continent. Het eerlijke antwoord is dat dit allemaal niet zo indrukwekkend is. A capella traditionele Afrikaanse volkszang. Om in het echt te zien is het waarschijnlijk hartstikke mooi, maar zo als opname is het toch wat kaal en is het, door het ogenschijnlijke gebrek aan afwisseling, ondanks de 36 minuten toch een aardig grote portie die je moet wegwerken. Ik mis toch iets van een klein trommeltje en iets van een gitaar-achtig snaarinstrumentje misschien. Het is knap, het is kwalitatief echt enorm goed ook, het is weer eens wat anders en daardoor is het eventjes ook wel interessant. Het is ook niet dat ik het onprettig vind ofzo, maar als geheel zal dit bij mij niet blijven hangen. Ik kom eigenlijk niet hoger dan een lullige 2 sterren.
Lowkey
Super pleasant and equally impressive, but... Even though I had this playing twice today, I'm also underwhelmed. The harmonics - all happy major - of especially the English songs? The airy production? There's so much shine and polish here that I think this was specifically made for, well, Paul Simon's typical audience of, well, world music savvy Americans. Not for me. 3.5, rounding up.
Isicathamiya seems to be a soft a capella with rich harmonies which stays repetitive.
4/5
Wonderful voices !
I could not find the original version on Apple or Spotify. But I did find an anniversary album on Spotify. Their voices/harmony were perfect.
Yes, intereseting a 3.5! Would listen again.
36-минутное отпевание, произведённое африканскими шаманами
6.5/10
Decent but wouldn't listen to it all the time. Still glad I was exposed to it. Not totally my thing but I appreciated it.
a really relaxing listen, vocally so smooth and the harmonies are so good. Didn't realise this had moved onto a whole extra album after and just listened to and enjoyed both
Calming yet somehow uplifting at the same time. And unmistakably that sound from Graceland. Love it
Pleasant and massively impressive a capella album. I confess to involuntarily feeling like I was constantly waiting for the songs to start so can't rate higher than a 3, but that does sound like a me-problem
Good world music album. Probably only know about them because of Graceland. I like this but probably wouldn’t think to listen to it. I think the harmonies are excellent.
Graceland without Paul Simon. I can tell why he liked these guys! Beautiful group vocal singing with clean harmonies!
- voices as instruments .... beautiful -
fun sounds
I’m ok with this. Helps that Paul Simon isn’t ruining it, even though I keep expecting his sad excuse for afrobeat to drop in at any moment. I think what’s on Apple Music is actually a re-recording of it, but it’s pleasant.
This was very different to anything ive ever listened to, it was very peaceful but I don’t think I was in the right mood for it because it was kind of boring for me.
carino ma tutte le canzonii sembravano uguali
Refreshing to have some choral music. Aware of these guys after the collaboration with Paul Simon.
fantastic
It's a joyous, uplifting listening experience, superbly sung and full of beauty. It's a bit repetitive for a whole album but fabulous nonetheless.
Nice
Soothing and calming and joyously uplifting, so glad this is on the list and just what I needed today
I enjoyed this, but I still think their best work was still their collaboration with Kermit T. Frog, which sadly didn't stretch to a full album.
A refreshing change from the usual transatlantic albums we have on the 1001 list, even if this is a Paul Simon produced album. Despite being a bit samey towards the end, it's a beautiful companion to Graceland.
Soulful 3.7
definitely something different, I enjoyed my listen but I do not see myself coming back to this
Note: only 3 of 10 tracks currently available on Spotify. When I got around to locating this, it was a gorgeous listen. So much vocal talent and songsmithing. Highly recommend tracking down the whole thing.
bonito
Coro de tribo africana ? Procede produção ? Doido, mas passo pro próximo.
eu odeio acappella com muita força. foi doloroso ouvir.
Booooooring. ⭐⭐
It's a beautiful thing.
Because I’m not a racist.
It's funny how something that sounds really interesting for a few minutes can become less so after 20 and then tiresome at the 40 min mark. I feel 2 is too low but quite 3 either. What do do.
This would be very cool to see live. But as a record it’s too much for me to hang into for the duration of a whole record just listening.
Not for me.
At first I was like, this sounds like the non-instrumental parts from Graceland. Wait a second, it IS the non-instrumental parts from Graceland, or at least it's Paul Simon who produced this album with the group that did those parts. I didn't really like this. Never got to the point I wanted to turn it off, but I really wanted Paul Simon to come in at some point.
Väldigt behaglig bakgrundsmusik. Ingen låt som. Stack ut så mycket, men skapade nice stämning
I like the idea behind this one and the story is pretty neat, but to me the music comes off as kinda samey. They are obviously very talented, but I don’t know what they are saying and there no instruments and very few melodic ideas in the background to keep it interesting. Favorite songs were King of Kings and How Long.
Løvernes Konge Broadway Soundtrack-core. Lyder meget hyggeligt, ikke lige noget jeg sætter på
Meget pænt, egentlig lækkert nok at lytte til men efter en halv time har man godt nok også hørt det. (Sådan ville jeg nok have det med alle slags rå a capella albums)
Lion King encore
I came into this with much hope only for it to be crushed
52/100. Shaka Zulu by Ladysmith Black Mambazo is an alright listen, with the vocals being the standout element that barely keeps it engaging. While the harmonies are beautiful, the album feels monotone and repetitive, lacking instrumental variety to break things up. A switch-up here and there could have made it more dynamic, but as it stands, it feels a bit dull
Just listened to early tracks. A lovely, calming sound. Will come back to this.
I’m not going to say I loved this. But there were moments I locked in. The vocals and music almost cast a magic spell. Ultimately I doubt I’ll come back to this but wouldn’t be mad if I did. 3/5
Not my scene but I respect the effort it must take
This was nice for the workday
Good way to start the day
The harmonies are nice but there’s basically nothing else to it unfortunately
Nice sound.
I grew up on Graceland, and it formed some core musical memories for me. As such, I am clearly down with this record. In my opinion, Simon and LBM are best experienced together but this record has an amazing vibes all on it's own. Super.
This has beautiful harmonies, no doubt, but after a few tracks it just started to feel like I was stuck in the intro of The Lion King for 40 minutes. Peaceful? Sure. Memorable? Not really. It’s not bad music—it just didn’t hold my attention. I appreciate the cultural importance, but it’s not something I’d revisit.
Rating: 4/10 Nah, this a capella style does not work well for an entire album. This group was amazing on Graceland though.
Gets. Little repetitive but it’s interesting and unique
Interesting but I'm not really an a cappella fan. Their voices are beautiful
this was nice. Did blend together a bit and got stuck a little cause it sometimes sounds like background music. Overall though, I enjoyed this!
Nice sound to all their albums
African acapella... Nice!
This just makes me really happy. I really like a cappella music; it reminds me of doing barbershop quartet and barbershop choral music in high school. This is really good. The vocals are *locked in* to the point where you could convince me that it's actually a keyboard with like a vocal setting or something. It does get a little "same-y", but each song does have some unique things to themselves that make them stand out enough, that even if you're not paying close attention, you know you're listening to a different song. Favorite Song(s): Hello My Baby, Lomhlaba Kawunoni
can't even to half the songs on spotify. so ill assume its a 3
What was your first experience of Ladysmith Back Mambazo? Was it on Graceland by Paul Simon? Or maybe on the Lion King soundtrack (I think that was them, right…)? Well mine was when my family suddenly got super into them when I was in school. I didn’t really get it at the time, because I was far more interested in 5ive and Britney Spears. Listening now, it’s such a nice, calming sound. The harmonies are frankly delightful, and the lack of instruments really lets the beauty of the vocals shine through. This was a nice album to have on while working today.