Raise Your Spirit Higher: Wenyukela [SACD]

Performer: Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Engineer: John Lindemann
Producer: Joseph Shabalala
Distributor: Fontana Distribution

Notes: Ladysmith Black Mambazo includes: Joseph Shabalala (vocals). This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD CD players. Ladysmith Black Mambazo includes: Joseph Shabalala (vocals). This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players. Audio Mixer: Martin Walters. Recording information: Playzone Studios. Photographer: Robert Hoffman. Perhaps no other singing group embodies the rich South African heritage of mbube and Iscathamiya singing more than Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Traditionally, these musical styles are structured around a call and response between a vocal soloist and an ensemble of backing singers. Such is the case with RAISE YOUR SPIRIT HIGHER, a beautiful, deeply sacred album that speaks volumes about a people's ability to overcome great odds. Lyrically, these songs seek to redefine and reclaim African tribal identity. At the same time, this music underscores the collective experience of all persons and all races. Centering on love and compassion, tunes such as "Music Knows No Boundaries" and "Black Is Beautiful" pay powerful tribute to the underprivileged and the disenfranchised. Other selections on this album reflect this group's profound spiritual calling. For example, "Uqinisil' Ubada," ("Lord Is the Light and Truth") and "Wenyukela" ("Raise Your Spirit Higher") emphasize the faith-based repertoire of this ensemble. On all of these pieces, lush vocal harmonies are set against a stark solo voice. This creates a series of compelling ebbs and flows, and dramatic musical transformations. Perhaps no other singing group embodies the rich South African heritage of mbube and Iscathamiya singing more than Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Traditionally, these musical styles are structured around a call and response between a vocal soloist and an ensemble of backing singers. Such is the case with RAISE YOUR SPIRIT HIGHER, a beautiful, deeply sacred album that speaks volumes about a people's ability to overcome great odds. Lyrically, these songs seek to redefine and reclaim African tribal identity. At the same time, this music underscores the collective experience of all persons and all races. Centering on love and compassion, tunes such as "Music Knows No Boundaries" and "Black Is Beautiful" pay powerful tribute to the underprivileged and the disenfranchised. Other selections on this album reflect this group's profound spiritual calling. For example, "Uqinisil' Ubada," ("Lord Is the Light and Truth") and "Wenyukela" ("Raise Your Spirit Higher") emphasize the faith-based repertoire of this ensemble. On all of these pieces, lush vocal harmonies are set against a stark solo voice. This creates a series of compelling ebbs and flows, and dramatic musical transformations. This is the U.S. release of the German title Raise Your Spirit Higher: Wenyukela that appeared in Germany in 2003. The album comes in both standard and SAS-CD formats. As for the music found here, this is just a going-through-the-motions set for Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the legendary South African supergroup who use the township sound of Isicathamiya as their base. While most of their recordings are spiritual in nature, this set offers some more secular themes -- including a tune reminding people to buckle their seat belts while driving! Musically, the territory is the same as it ever was, with the only real differential being the voluminous use of English here. [This version is reproduced in SACD format.] ~ Thom Jurek

From the South African musical style mbube, Ladysmith Black Mambazo popularized a more modern, sophisticated offshoot known as iscathamiya. They quickly became the genre's leading practitioners, with a vocal harmony blend that incorporated everything from mbube to gospel and doo wop. The group began recording in the mid-1970s, gaining great acclaim in their home country, but it wasn't until their collaboration with Paul Simon on his GRACELAND album in 1986 that Ladysmith broke through to an international audience. World tours, a US major-label deal, and a Grammy award followed.

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