Welcome to Zamrock! vol. 1 : How Zambia's liberation led to a rock revolution

"Remarkably, despite this oppressive backdrop, Zambia still nurtured a healthy home-grown music scene. With an additional hardcover book supplying detailed historical context with the CD edition, the terrific, two-volume Welcome To Zamrock! unearths an embarrassment of previously obscure sonic riches and reveals that this rarely-hailed African nation really coulda been a contender during the 70s.Compiled from tracks recorded from 1972-'77, the majority of these discs' 34 songs are delivered in English and usually enhanced by Hendrix-loving, fuzz pedal-toting lead guitarists. A few (most notably Chrissy Zebby Tembo's emotive Born Black) lament Zambia's socio-political ills, but connecting with the dancefloor was clearly most artists' primary aim, with Teddy Chisi's sweaty, Isaac Hayes-esque Funky Lady, Machine Gunners' quirky, Bhundu Boys-ish Changa Namwele and the Remain In Light-style urban funk of Musi- O-Tunya's self-titled contribution among the many highlights spreadoverthese two spirited, life-affirming compendiums".

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"Now-Again's excellent Welcome to Zamrock! Vol. 1 offers 16 tracks by the scene's primary movers and shakers - like Ngozi Family, Witch, and Musi-O-Tunya - spanning the years 1972-1977. At times hard and funky (Ngozi Family's cosmic thumper "Hi Babe"), political (the soulful "Fwe Bena Zambia" by Five Revolutions), and occasionally heartbreaking (Chrissy Zebby Tembo's riffy race jam "Born Black"), this set sheds light on a unique and previously overlooked branch of Africa's rich musical heritage".

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