Kasai Allstars – In the 7th Moon, the Chief Turned Into a Swimming Fish and Ate the Head of His Enemy by Magic

From Sam....
Gawd!! I hope the walls don’t cave in on us THIS SUNDAY, Strangers!!
Sunday, May 13 will be the loudest Stay Strange yet!! Frank Melendez and Riververb! Also on the bill is the equally loud Actuary from Los Angeles. Plus a rare performance by artist Gerritt Wittmer.
SUNDAY, MAY 13-
RIVERVERB/ACTUARY/GERRITT WITTMER
THE KAVA GALLERY - 2804 KETTNER BLVD - 7PM - $5.00 - ALL AGES SHOW!
Riververb is always in a constant change, and I hear that the latest incarnation is the best so far! Judge for yourself! it’s some heavy stuff! Face morphing grinder sludge. Last time Riververb played, no slayed, the smoke turned black from monolithic chunks of acid-noise.
Actuary shake the shit loose! Los Angeles breeds some sick stuff and this by no means drops the ball. Not only are this tunes in your face, it’s in your skull too! Mean ass nitro venom. Gory!!
Gerritt Wittmer is an artist in the darkest sense possible. I’m not sure what he’ll be doing at this month’s Stay Strange, but if it’s anything like his performance at LUFF, it’s going to be scary!!!

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Kasai Allstars – In the 7th Moon, the Chief Turned Into a Swimming Fish and Ate the Head of His Enemy by Magic (Crammed Discs) Keith Boyd 7.29.8

There’s no such place as Africa. “But, but…,” you say tapping emphatically, “Here it is on the map!” I refute your map and say again that there’s no such place as Africa. I would even go further and say there are no such places as Senegal, Nigeria, or Kenya. It’s not that I am saying these places are imaginary or make believe either. They exist, but just not in the way we usually think. The real essence of culture or life relating to these places is in fact embodied in the family. Each family grouping in any one of these countries is the living, breathing expression of whatever “Africa” means. Beyond the family is perhaps the village with its unique collective expression of those familial impulses. Perhaps the biggest layer or shell of “African-ness” is the tribe or ethnic/cultural grouping. It’s at this level where we see the time-tested lifeways for people of a certain area. So when we talk about Africa as a unit, we are actually spreading our net of comprehension grotesquely thin. Why does any of this matter? Well, I suppose it’s just helpful to remember that when we encounter the artistic products marketed as African, we might want to consider them on their own unique merits rather than simple variations on a theme. In this light I come to consider the exquisite third release in Crammed Disc’s Congotronics series, Kasai Allstars “In the 7th moon…”
The Kasai Allstars is a group based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo and is a collective that regroups 25 musicians from five bands. The bands come from five different ethnic groups; the Luba, the Songye, the Lulua, the Tetela, and the Luntu. Given the enmity that often exists between ethnic groups, the simple fact of this band is somewhat of a miracle. Each group’s music differs in tonality, intention, and language, so the unique challenge/opportunity on this project was the varied musicians working with producer, Vincent Kenis, to create new ways of playing together. Although there are a multitude of instruments used, the guiding timbral voices are slit drums (Lokombe), xylophones, and thumb pianos (Likembe). These instruments set up the swirling and hypnotic patterns over which the singers solo, harmonize, and lead calls and responses. The ingenious homemade electronic amplification of these instruments adds an almost avant guard buzzing reverb to the overall sound. This is simply thrilling music. It’s no field recorded museum piece that is easy to digest and dismiss. It pops with tension, spirit, and power. As you listen, you’ll find yourself experiencing and feeling a very different melodic sensibility. Absolute standout tracks include, “Mbua-A-Matumba”, “Beyond the 7th Moon”, and the vocal tour de force, “Tshitua Fuila Mbuloba”.
While you might not come away from this disc with a textbook understanding of “Africa” or it music/art/culture you will go away with an enormous smile and a pleasurable buzz. I urge you to do as the liner notes suggest and “Play it Loud!”