I had to double check to see if this Simon was the same as Simon & Garfunkel, the atmosphere of this and their collaborative work being so different. Things in this album are nice (collaboration with South African black artists and so on), it was overall pleasant but I don't think I'll come back to it; moreover, some production choices (as the drums) didn't age well and once again, you don't have to check the release date to know when this was out.
I clearly remember hearing this album for the first time, with no idea of what to expect. That distinctive accordion wheezing followed by staccato gunshots of the drums, and a lyric that evoked the horrors of South Africa under apartheid. Yes, this was controversial at the time, with a cultural boycott in place but Simon was clearly championing black African music by paying the musicians three times the going rate and giving writing credits. It certainly brought bands like Ladysmith Black Mambazo to a much wider audience than they would have had otherwise. Does it hold up now? Well, I’ve listened three times and I’m listening again which should tell you something.