Ulwandle Oluncgwele

by Adam GreenbergA relatively early release by the supergroup from South Africa, Ulwandle Oluncgwele makes use of the same style of Zulu mbube that Shabalala's group has always used. It is a stirring sort of sound that emerges from the doubled techniques of call and response along with the synchronized vocals that have made the group famous. It is quite a good album, though mildly slow in points (at least for those that don't speak the Zulu language and, thus, have nothing semantic to process); the style is such a stunning display of virtuosity in its own way that one can hardly help but to enjoy the album, at least at some level.