Reviews (page 5 of 7)
Really pleasant. Loved the harmonies and recording quality
pretty cool Will I listen to again: 2%
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.
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)
Really good album and you can see where Paul Simon and the talking heads got there special singers from.
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
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.
mi piace
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.
It my thing but Rain Rain Beautiful Rain is cool
Beautiful production, but not something I would ever just pop on and listen to.
Interesting but only a couple of songs that connected for me.
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.
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.
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.
Very sweet and unique sound, definitely deserves its place on this list
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.
I liked the authentic sound of this.
favorites: How Long
A 3*, so I can't be accused of being racist.
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
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
vibey
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?
actually really interesting.... not my typical thing, but very nice. hard to find the actual album!
Great harmonies but not my thing
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
king of kings was a jam
I like harmony but it felt overused
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.
but you LOVE ladysmith black mambazo!!
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.
Pleasant, calm
Nice and calming…maybe slightly samey
Good bath tunes
This album is not my cup of tea. I can see why someone would, but I'm not that someone.
OK 2.8
Kind of calming and kind of boring, so it evens out
sympatoche, sans plus, bonne musique d'ambiance
ok well I got to hear wasnt bad 3/5
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.
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.
It was ok. Not my style.
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.
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.
Not something I would have ever listened to on my own. Glad I did
Lowkey
Isicathamiya seems to be a soft a capella with rich harmonies which stays repetitive.
Yes, intereseting a 3.5! Would listen again.
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.
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.
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.
carino ma tutte le canzonii sembravano uguali
Nice
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.
bonito
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.
Løvernes Konge Broadway Soundtrack-core. Lyder meget hyggeligt, ikke lige noget jeg sætter på
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
Nice sound.
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!
can't even to half the songs on spotify. so ill assume its a 3
3.5 - beautiful vocal performance
It's beautiful music. Not my vibe but I did enjoy it's quality. Don't know if I'll ever listen to it again but at least I know it's out there.
I actually kinda liked this album. Very calming. It sounds like the music playing in the back of a Civilization game
Very calming album
Cool stuff
Incomplete. N/A. Sounds nice and I want more African music in my life, but need to hear more.
01) Unomathemba - 7,5 02) Hello My Baby - 7,5 03) Golgotha - 7,0 04) King of Kings - 7,0 05) Lomhlaba Kawunoni - 7,0 06) How Long? - 7,0 07) Ikhaya Lamaqhawe - 7,5 08) Yibo Labo - 7,0 09) Rain, Rain Beautiful Rain - 7,5 10) Wawusho Kubani? - 6,5 TOTAL: 7,15 (72/100) Current ranking: 266/459
Very beautiful voice, amazing acapella, pretty much like African gospel music. but probably not going to listen to again
I’m surprised that I liked this as much as I did. I’m rarely into acapella music, and don’t listen to any world music. This was somehow very calming
Molto particolare, molto rilassante, ma non sono riuscita ad ascoltarlo tutto.. per il pisolino è molto carino
This is not my musical jam but I'm not gonna discount the talent
It's cool
Was skeptical going into this since I like loud, layered, complex music and a cappella is pretty much the antithesis of that. But this album turned out to be just... nice. It's easy to listen to, and I had no problem getting through it despite this kind of music being completely outside of my interests. But aside from being exceptionally accessible, there's nothing to praise this album for. It's too monotonous and not exciting. There's not a single song of even part of a song that stands out. This is nice background music, but it can't stand on its own.
3.5★. Nice harmonies, but very repetitive. Still, it’s a pleasant repetition - like attending a beautiful church service that you can zone out to.
Pleasant.
Good album.
5/10
Good
A good to fall asleep by the campfire
interesting but not for a whole album
Peaceful and calm. 3/5
3/5
det här är kul faktikst. lite långtråkigt och same same men det är rätt coolt.
3/5
I've seen this band live a few times-- they came and did a show for my elementary school in the 1980s! I found then as now that the music is beautiful and comforting but not something I would generally reach for.
schön aber nit so mei musik
World music Good Interesting 3 or so
I can picture Julia Louis-Dreyfuss' character in Christmas Vacation listening to this
7/10
This is good, I guess? I don't listen to this type of music often so I have no idea what the general quality range is. I thought it was fine
It was ok
To be fair I do quite like this. Guesting with Paul Simon on Gracelandbrought them to into the worlds gaze and I do possess an album by them, but not this one. It's nothing to write home about, but it's OK. Think it just about scrapes a 3
A really beautiful listen. I can appreciate this enough for a solid 3 without really loving it enough to add to my collection.
I was digging it, but only 3 of the 10 songs were available on Spotify?
I struggle to rate this because I do find it very interesting but I'm also not sure when I would listen to it again. The tracks tend to run together, but it's calming and peaceful, so let's call it ** 1/2 and round up. Favorite track: Unomathemba
Spotify only had 3 songs of the album. What I heard just reminded me of lion king.
africa!
very interesting.
Pretty impressive that they can do this a cappella. It's vibey.
Something a little different, a pretty cool with it. An interesting listen
Soulful and lots of pretty harmonies and I like the anti-apartheid history and Paul Simon link but an album is far too much for me
A beautiful summery hug. But as the album went on, I kept on hoping that one of those ‘Graceland’ guitars would kick in. Despite having seen LBM live, I think I forgot that it was all a capella. For a few tracks this album is heaven… but I couldn’t sustain the same level of interest for 36 mins. Highlights: The first song
I knew of this group from Graceland but never listened to a full album. It’s pleasant, but all relatively similar
Surprisingly not bad. Interesting and good addition to the bri’ish list.
Good addition to the list 3.5
Cómo un trabajo coral de música africana, debe ser fantástico. Las voces son claras y el ritmo típico. No puedo decir más.
Actually liked this a lot more than i thought i would. Musically different to what I normally listen to but overall enjoyed it
I vaguely remember this was a hot commodity when it came out, mainly because they were an integral part of Paul Simon's "Graceland" sound - it wasn't my thing but I gave it a try. In revisiting it I found it enjoyable and unique compared to the rock, reggae, alternative sounds I typically listen to. You gotta respect the harmonies and the depth of the vocals even if you can't understand much of what they say. It's impressive but I must say it's repetitive for an entire album, not a ton of variation over 46 minutes. I found myself skipping forward on some tracks as I feel like I'd already been there and done that. It would not make my Top 1001 for any reason. Likely impressive to see live but not something I'd throw on to listen to on my own or recommend to others. No hits, not overly influential but they did establish a sound & awareness of South African music worldwide.
Beautiful harmonies. Melodically much of the same. And after 36 minutes it is also enough.
not really a fan of accapella and it reminds me too much of graceland which i hate
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.
African acapella. Interesting and I did enjoy it, but a full album was too much. Some instrumentation would’ve helped bump this up a little bit. Not even anything fancy, just a simple drumbeat, maybe a little guitar.
The band well known from Graceland.
Like listening to the lion king
Enjoyed this - I remember when they came into prominence with Graceland. Fun to hear more from this group.
This is a cool album but I don't know that I was in the right mood for this genre of music. This is an album I'll have to come back to later.
This was so far outside of what the music I typically listen to it made it difficult to rate/compare. Still found it a pleasant listen.
pretty boring, but i see what mandela was talking about. good music to fall asleep to
Terrific production and amazing performances. I admit that I struggle to appreciate a cappella music and as good as these songs are it does color my opinion. The group's sound is striking at first but I get lost before the first side ends.
I was blindsided when I heard the first song. Usually not a fan of accapela songs. Instruments are one half of a great song most of the time. I got used to it later on in the album. Turned out the album was pretty good. 3 stars for "Shaka Zulu".
Very relaxing but sounded the same throughout album
Relaxing
For people who like African folk music. The whole album can get a bit tiring.
Enjoyed!
I love a cappella, so this is starting nicely. Great harmonies and timing. Beautiful album. Yibo Labo is my favorite.
Lovely singing and harmonising but I did get bored by the third track.
Beautiful vocal harmonies. The group’s voices combine for a rich, warm sound. 30+ minutes of a cappella singing is a lot though and I wish there was some percussion or other instrumentation mixed in. The last minutes of the closing track have some foot-stomping and I’m curious why there aren’t a few more inclusions like that. I’m familiar with the group from Paul Simon’s “Graceland” and happy to know they had more success outside of their collaboration with him. If there’s another album of theirs with a full band, I’d love to hear it.
sie sind hald die vo graceland und ha eigentli scho immer gfunde vlt fändi es album vo ihne no geil. here we are. s isch tatsach huere schön, suuper warme sound hends zeme. joo ich bin sochli zwüsched nöd ganz wüsse wasi söll demit afange unds mega schön finde gad.
2-3
Neither good nor bad. Just ok world music album
I enjoyed this, very relaxing. Amazing that there are no instruments.
Pretty good, but it runs a little long at points.
Very cool set of songs. 3.5 stars.
solid vibes
Enjoyed this. Can’t say I wasn’t disappointed that they didn’t burst into Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes. Which I’m aware is a very white thing to say. Simpsons: Not directly, but there is a Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes joke.
Enjoyed this. But not a high scorer that I'll be coming back to in a hurry.
there were only a couple of the tracks available on spotify. Usually I'll track the full album down on YouTube but I figured 3 songs was good enough. This is calming, peaceful music that has a place. Just not something I need in large doses
Nice album
This feels like an suitable album to mildly appropriate.
Guess it's Afro-pop week. What pop should be--well-recorded, engaging, intriguing. When you don't know what the words mean, you focus on production and sonic engagement. Good. Entrancing.
From 1960s lone South African female singer to 1980s SA choral in succession. Really easy, comforting background music.
As spectacular and (now) iconic and magical as these gentlemen are, a cappella has a 20-minute expiration for me. After that, the magic fades and I'm ready for something else.
Not sure how to rate this. Any individual song was blissful (those harmonies are fire!), but they all sounded the same to my inexperienced ears.
Classic
3/5
Immediately recognizable from Paul Simon’s collab. Enjoyable. Not going to be a go to, but glad to have had the reason to listen.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo are legendary, and it was a real treat to see them included on this project! They may be one of the most well known African groups in the Western world, and certainly the most well known choral African group. Their fame and success gave rise to other groups like them being acknowledged and appreciated by western listeners. And it all started with this album, as it was the first of theirs to gain that level of international success. Their harmonies and vocalizations on this album are outstanding. I find this to be very approachable and easy to listen to as someone who does not understand the cultural significance of this type of music, let alone any of the lyrics. It is the type of album that can be enjoyed both in an active listening mode and in a more relaxed mode. This is a real treat to have on this project -- it was the West's initial window into unadulterated South African music, and it is fitting that this project would be a window into that music and this album for a whole new generation.
Beautiful voices Singing perfect harmonies My subwoofers cry. Nice to listen to. Will I listen again? Maybe as a way to relax. I can’t help but feel this album echoes colonialism. The gospel overtones undercut the beauty of the voices for me. The religioisity of it all as viewed through a Christian lens subtracts from the beauty of the sounds. If the content were otherwise, I could possibly shake the feeling. Overall, not quite my jam, but certainly we’ll done.
Very impressive, has this big time gospel thing of seeming very Professional that lessens the impact for me - I think maybe it's the sound of many restrained singers all with the microphone very close? Is it fair to lay the blame for why this doesn't register entirely on Paul Simon and the Disney Corporation? Yes it is. vampires: hated. (⌐■_■) music: failed to appreciate. ( -_-)
Graceland, without the bad parts (the Paul Simon parts).
Human instrument On full beautiful display Soothing old art form
Beautiful harmonies and a unique record!
Ja leuk
The singing and harmonies are other worldly. The flavour of something non western is delightful and I enjoyed the hour or two it took for a couple of run throughs. However, I did miss percussion and I found it a bit repetitive and one note after a while.
Good
Beautiful really. Unfortunately, these songs end up sounding all the same to me. Maybe it’s the language barrier.
This is impressive for an a capella record.
Had a good time listening to this. The melodies and voices just flow together so well. It was perfect background work music. Not sure how much I would actually listen it other than during a work day or on a solo car trip, but I would definitely use this to springboard into more South African music.
Really takes me back to those chorus days. A solid listen, and even with the language barrier I still enjoyed a few of the songs. Glad I listened to it, but probably won’t again.
It was just kind of the same throughout, but I'll be damned if that vocal choreography wasn't impressive
Coming to America vibes. I enjoyed it.
nice and short
Listened to the 30th anniversary re-recording because that was all I could I find to easily listen to. I knew about Ladysmith Black Mambazo before from Graceland/having hippie parents who listened to a lot of world music so this was about what I expected. Pretty, hypnotic, acapella African gospel music.
African choral music. It took me until the third song to realize, hey there are no instruments, just their voices. It's nice and all, reminds me of the beginning of The Circle of Life from The Lion King. It wouldn't surprise me if these were the people who did that one. It would take a very specific time and place for me to put this on again. Favorite track: Many of the songs sounded the same, but I'll go with Yibo Labo.
It’s OK
Musically, I don’t care for it, but culturally, I appreciate the record for introducing Western listeners to traditional Zulu music and South African culture during a time when the country was still under apartheid rule.
I just don't like acapella. Personal enjoyment: 2/5 Relevance to this list 3/5
Gear: Fostex TH610 Artwork: das passendere "Graceland"-Cover Mix: Bass, Percussions und Gitarren fast nicht wahrnehmbar gemischt - künstlerisch zweifelhafte Entscheidung 🤔 Musik: ich steh auf "Graceland" 👍 Wertung: 🌍🌍🌍/5
re-recorded bunch of a cappella african songs, good, but not very exciting
Wonderful vocal ensemble with beautiful harmonies - mesmerizing and hypnotic...
That was good, but not my style
Album 429 of 1001 Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Shaka Zulu Rating : 3.5 / 5 Great music but doesn't necessarily make it a great album. They're better in smaller doses.
Schon etwas ganz besonderes, kann man gut anhören, aber nicht zu viel auf einmal, weil es doch sehr ähnlich alles ist.
Lekker rustig man
Without a doubt, this is the most different album I've ever heard. Especially because I had never heard an album of just acapella songs before. It's not the kind of thing to listen to casually. It has to be felt and observed, every little thing. It definitely has its value! The voices are very well harmonized. They make whoever listens to them feel comfortable and welcomed.
très cool mais le fait de ne pas connaitre assez ce style me donne l'impression que c'était répétitif par contre la fin était géniale
This album was fine. I was expecting it to be a bit more out there. But obviously it's an important record in terms of turning the west on to African music a bit more. Good listen for sure.
Really interesting but also pretty one-note throughout
I've heard of Ladysmith Black Mambazo (which will abbreviated as LBM for the remainder of this review), but only because Paul Simon's Graceland is one of my favorite albums of all time. It was interesting to get to hear LBM on their own, and this album featured some really great singing, but it was difficult to give direct attention to it since it was only acapella singing with a lot of that in a foreign language. This album was nice to listen to, and I'm happy for the experience to branch out, but this didn't exactly light the world on fire for me.
It starts fun and impressive, but in the end all songs sounded the same.
Beautiful but stale
It's amazing and perfect but also gets boring very quick.
A solid album
It's good. But all the tracks are pretty similar sounding. Prefer Graceland, I've got to say.
I can listen to it when other music is inserted between the songs. E.g. from the album Graceland by Paul Simon, that loosens it up a bit.
Cool short project, but nothing I need to revisit.
Música "soul" a cappella africana. Ni fu ni fa.
Yes, beautiful, and brings you peace of mind. But after enjoying Sonic youth and Tom Waits albums today of the list I must admit this one just is less for me.
Fine I’ll rewatch Mean Girls
Wasn’t that into this but I’m not racist so 3 stars
Nice voices. Got a bit repetitive after a while.
Chill 3 Aik. läpyskä 3
One of my favorite albums of all time is Paul Simon's Graceland. It uses this band and I have loved this sort of sound ever since. With that saiid, the one thing that that album has that this one does not is instrumentals and drum beats. I had a hard time with just the vocals after a while, it is not something I am keen on, despite the emotional aspects and purity of it. Nevertheless, a remarkable group and a genre that could use a bit more mainstream exposure (if for a bit more instrumental backing).
Sucker for world music and choir music. I loved their work on the "Graceland" album which is where I first heard of this group. I don't know if the songs themselves really hit too much but the vibe of this record I can have on really anytime. Except maybe if I was really depressed then I'd get annoyed/feel self conscious for some reason.
A departure of styles for me. I didn't dislike it but I can't see how to include this into a regular rotation. All I could think of is "The Lion King"
Album Nr. 47 Mal etwas anderes. Schöner Akapella-Sound. Leider mit der Zeit etwas langweilig.
I didn't know about the Graceland link until I read some reviews. It is really clear after it is pointed out. Soothing and smoking at the same time.
Soothing and soaring, beautiful harmonies.
p577. 1987. 3.5 stars. Extremely well done and pleasant to listen to, but not my thing at all. Glad I heard it once, but unlikely to listen to it again.
Perhaps best known for being produced by Paul Simon after they were featured on his 1986 album Graceland, the choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo performed traditional Zulu folk music in the a cappella style. I won't lie, I think the performances in English detract a little bit from the music's cultural roots, but the performances themselves are nice. The choral style has a natural flow that gives song a soothing, peaceful quality to them. I found much of Shaka Zulu to be a generally pleasant listen throughout, though it is held back by the limitations of a cappella. I think that form of music tends to face challenges relating to space, as the lack of instrumentation ends up feeling somewhat empty. That said, I want to remain respectful of the music from other cultures so I won't judge it too harshly.
A nice listen, but it doesn't really hit me.
It is occasional music. Difficult to know what that occasion might be. One is set aside from ones travails while this is playing.
This is beautiful African music. But for me it gets a bit boring because its mostly acapella. Nothing bad with that, but I like African music that has rhythm, not having the fantastic african instruments that "breathe" rhythm (djembe,maracas) in any song is a sin.
High 3 but not quite a 4
Not bad but don't know how to classify this one
Mal ein Lied. Aber nicht ein ganzes Album
Very soothing!
I love Paul Simon’s “Graceland” album (it was one of the first CDs I ever purchased!). I had no idea this group existed as I assumed Paul Simon had just hired individual musicians to sing on the album. This is cool music, not something I would listen to regularly, but definitely skilled and fun.
Pretty good.
Like the majority of people I guess outside Africa I was introduced to Ladysmith by Paul Simon. I loved their contributions to his albums and it perked me interest in them. Peter Gabriels Real World Records also generated my interest in similar artists he championed. I was never motivated enough to buy their own music but always enjoyed listening to them as their popularity increased and they were heard more and more on radio and TV. It was good and a joy therefore to listen to this full album and also read about the group on the accompanying Wiki page. However, I don’t think that I could ever sit down on a dedicated listening session but I don’t think the music is produced for that purpose. They suit soundtracks on magnificent African dramas and make the watching memorable. They sing with joy and fun and their music should be reserved for such occasions.
Pretty
Ok ok ok but quite bland
This is exactly what you would expect a full length album of African a cappella to be. Yes it's beautiful, but once you've heard a song or two, you kind of get the gist of it.
Is it beautiful and captivating? Yes. Is it also very similar from start to finish? Yes.
Lion king core
african tribal a cappella music. these guys are crazy talented. an enjoyable listening experience.
Yeah, it was fine. I wouldn't likely listen to it again, but I get the appeal.
Unomathemba- 3.7/5 Hello My Baby- 4.3/5 Golgotha- 3.5/5 King of Kings- 3.2/5 The Earth Is Never Satisfied- 3/5 How Long?- 3.4/5 Ikhaya Lamaqhawe- 3.6/5 Yibo Labo- 2.8/5 Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain- 3.1/5 Wawusho Kubani- 2.7/5 Total- 3.3/5
3 stars
This was really cool. Definitely not something I’d normally listen to, and maybe that is why it kinda ran together after a while. But still, I quite enjoyed it.
The music was beautiful, but I wish it wasn’t purely a capella. I love African instrumentation and I would have loved to have it show up every now and then to break up some of the monotony.
Nice. Soothing. I was already sleepy when listening to this and it was nice and relaxing. I'd give it a higher score but I don't think it's the sort of thing I'd listen to for my own enjoyment. But I'm glad I did it for this.
Was fine. Kinda background. Would listen again.
It takes special talent to make an almost entirely vocal-based album in a foreign language sound this relatable and beautiful. It's not something I'll probably ever revisit on my own for leisure, but it's an album I'm glad to have experienced. Favorite track: Wawusho Kubani
Lo que dice la Wikipedia es básicamente lo que sabía de este grupo más o menos. Interesante y que tal vez por el éxito de El rey león y su musical ahora todo nos suena parecido, pero ellos llegaron antes.
What can I say, I'm out of my depth on acappella stuff. I enjoyed this, but it's something I don't think I'll be returning to. Admittedly, there were some techniques (mainly the "lip smacking" ones) that I disliked, but I hate it when people do that in general anyway. Favorite track: "Golgotha"
Not really my thing but in the right mood I reckon it'd be bang on
Relaxing background music
30th year anniversary edition is on spotify
I was thoroughly impressed by "Shaka Zulu" by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, fantastic vocals talents offering a unique and powerful journey rooted in African culture. Discovering this album was a delight, even if I was already familiar with their contributions to iconic albums like Paul Simon's "Graceland" or the Lion King. Their harmonious voices and unique sound left a lasting impression, and I won't forget their name. However, I must admit that I won't be including this in my regular listening rotation. As much as I enjoyed it, 40 minutes of a cappella can be quite challenging for frequent listening.
Beautiful and soothing. Their voices dig deep into you to the point of feeling spiritual. My ear isn't accustomed to this style and I find it very repetitive. I do not feel equipped to make a proper judgement so I'll give the album a 3. I do not see myself listening to this very often.
Enjoyable listen
this is a breeze to listen to. Ambient singing if such a think were possible (possibly yes - Cocteau Twins).
Ei huono mutta kaipaan kyllä Paul Simonia tai jotain soitantaa taustalle. Haastavaa kuvitella tilanne jossa tää olis ideaalimusaa. Silti 3/5!
Hyvin miellyttävää, mutta en saanut isompia kiksejä.
beautiful voices and very peaceful, maybe a little too Godly
I feel like this is kinda missing something. I kinda feel that way with most purely a capella or choral music though, with some exceptions here and there. Not bad at all, but I'm unlikely to come back to it.
Beautiful work, didn’t need to understand it to feel it
Great harmonisation but after listening all the way through I'd had my fill.
It’s a career-defining sound, for sure, and with Paul Simon producing it on the back of Graceland, it cements the group’s historical musical relevance. Does it hold up after 35yrs? Sorta?
Super cool album. I’m definitely going to go add this to my rotation.
I have a hard time listening to full albums of acapella music. To me they kind of have a ceiling of my possible enjoyment. I think this is a good entry but wish that there was a bit more momentum to the tracks. I know that's not the point, but limited my overall enjoyment. 3.5/5
I was excited for this but it just kinda bounced off me.
It is what it is I guess? Some obviously good singing, but I'm not always going to be in the mood for something like this
This was a nice listen (I had to go to YouTube to get the whole record in a playlist), the vibes were great. Not normally a genre a listen to and probably not something I would revisit, but I definitely didn’t dislike it.
Une intro très sympathique qui va se prolonger puis s'éterniser jusqu'à la fin de l'album.
The unadorned human voice can be a beautiful thing, ably demonstrated on Shaka Zulu. However, I would probably enjoy a nibble here and there as opposed to the whole cake. A full album of this rather hushed, worthy music is a little too much. There's simply not enough in terms of variety to keep me rapt. I need a mote of grit in the oyster, if you can dig it. An interesting sideline that differs from much of what I listen to, but nothing more.
Album van de Zuid Afrikaanse a capella groep Ladysmith Black Mambaza, geproduceerd door Paul Simon. Bestaat deels uit nummers in het Engels en deels in het Zulu, Hoge productiewaarde en goede muziek, maar niet erg toegankelijk. leukste nummer: Unomathemba De groep werd in Zuid Afrika verboden om aan wedstrijden mee te doen omdat ze te veel wonnen.
Interesting
I don't want to get on Paul Simon's bad side. But then again, fuck him. He's got a Napoleon complex of sorts. That's neither here nor there, just worth mentioning.
3.4 - A pleasant novelty from this Kenyan a cappella group.
Production is great (really emphasising the voices and somehow making it feel like they're all around you when you listen, even not on headphones), and their voices are great, but on its own it's nowhere near as interesting as when Paul Simon brings it into Graceland. Glad I listened to it (and did so twice), but won't revisit. 3/5.
A showcase of incredible African a capella made by the people who worked with Paul Simon's Graceland. Incredibly creative and unique in the way they use their voices to create immersive sound effects. I'm bored and tired of most of the record, with quite a bit of repetition - there's only so much they could do - but there are lovely moments that manage to grab my attention. Even though I'm not a big fan, it's excellent in what it sought to accomplish. Favorites: Hello My Baby, Golgotha, How Long, Rain Rain Beautiful Rain
Seemingly every non-English album here is a novelty. African church choir a cappella, no exception to that rule, is not something I can do much of. My flatmates at uni would've played this to show off how cultured they are (and ignored that it's all about Jesus) while smoking fake weed they bought from the happy high herbs shop. Half an hour was the limit. Not actually bad, but pretty niche. 3/5.
Nice to listen, but nothing special.
I liked it a lot more than my prejudices led me to believe. I'm not a fan of a cappella music, but I must say that I found a certain form of hypnotism, calm and rest in it. I don't think I'll get back to it, nor that it's a major album in history of music, but it was a pleasant listen.
Enjoyable and easy to listen to, even if it doesn't really interest me particularly. 3.5
The production on this is great; it feels like you're being surrounded by voices all in harmony. I liked this but it's not something I'd listen to again. I LOVE their contribution to Graceland but on its own, it's a bit repetitive for me. Would rate 3.5 stars.
Fine if a bit bland. Ended a bad run so probably more relief than anything.
I'm going to put this in the category of "this isn't for me and I don't understand it," but that doesn't make it bad. I gave it a fair chance and listened to it front to back on a walk, but I can't see myself revisiting this. Keeping my score neutral...
This was a pleasant change up. Also made me curious why ODB referred to Shaka Zulu in enter the 36 chambers
smellnir afríkusöngvar. frekar róandi og gott. 3,5.
i have an overwhelming desire for some Heinz tomato soup.
Rating: 6/10