Angola Soundtrack is a two-volume compilation album series released by German record label Analog Africa. The albums compile music recorded between 1968 and 1978 in Angola, a period bridging the second half of the Angolan War of Independence and the beginnings of the Angolan Civil War, and which roughly coincides with the "golden age" of Angolan music.[1]: xxv The first volume (2010) is focused on Angolan popular music of the 1960s and 70s, which drew from traditional styles including rebita, kazukuta, and semba, as well as Latin and Congolese influences.[2] The second volume (2013) compiles more experimental music from the same period.
Background
editIn 1968, Angola was a colony of Portugal. Guerrilla groups had been fighting the Angolan War of Independence (one part of the Portuguese Colonial War) since 1961, and the war lasted until 1974. Under Portuguese rule, Angolan bands were banned from performing at carnivals, but a parallel live scene developed.[3]
In November 1975 Angola declared its independence.[4] Immediately after independence the Angolan Civil War began, which was to last 27 years. The war created dangerous conditions for musicians; David Zé and Urbano de Castro, who feature on Angola Soundtrack, were murdered in 1977 as part of the backlash to a failed coup attempt.[1]: 174
Angolan music has been influenced by its colonial history, and bears similarities to the music of Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.[2] The strong musical culture of Angola's neighbour Zaïre also influenced its music, in particular in the use of complex guitar rhythms similar to those of Congolese rumba.[2][5] In the 1960s the bass guitar was rarely used in Angolan music, and songs were driven by the lead guitar rhythm.[4] Latin music, particularly Cuban, also influenced Angolan music post-independence.[6]
Volume 1 – The Unique Sound Of Luanda 1968–1976
edit| Angola Soundtrack – The Unique Sound Of Luanda 1968–1976 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Compilation album by Various Artists | |
| Released | 22 November 2010 |
| Recorded | 1968–1976 |
| Length | 76:26 |
| Label | Analog Africa |
The first volume of Angola Soundtrack was inspired by a series of albums released by French record label Buda Musique in 1999–2000 that compiled Angolan music from the 1960s and 70s, and features some of the same artists.[2] Analog Africa owner Samy Ben Redjeb spent several years collecting Angolan records, and chose the tracklist from a pool of hundreds.[7] Angola Soundtrack was released on CD and LP on 22 November 2010.[8]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [7] |
| The Guardian | [6] |
| PopMatters | 8/10[5] |
| Songlines | [2] |
| The Telegraph | [9] |
Janne Oinonen of The Line of Best Fit called the first volume of Angola Soundtrack "essential listening...proving once again that behind the simplistic media portrayal of Africa as a continent of war, misery and poverty lies much richer, vibrant and multi-faceted reality," and identified Os Bongos' tracks as a highlight.[10] In The Wire, Julian Cowley described the album as having "no monumental standout tracks, but music with momentum and direction that carries you with it."[8] PopMatters wrote "one of the best things I can say about Angola Soundtrack is that it lives up to the rest of the Analog Africa discography."[5]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Rei do Palhetinho" | Mamukueno | 3:09 |
| 2. | "Comboio" | Os Kiezos | 3:34 |
| 3. | "Ilha Virgem" | Jovens do Prenda | 3:45 |
| 4. | "Ulungu Wami" | Zé Da Lua | 2:51 |
| 5. | "Pachanga Maria" | Os Bongos | 3:20 |
| 6. | "Tira Sapato" | Dimba Diangola | 2:56 |
| 7. | "N'Gui Banza Mama" | Santos Júnior | 4:27 |
| 8. | "Mi Cantando Para Ti" | N'Goma Jazz | 3:36 |
| 9. | "Macongo Me Chiquita" | Ferreira do Nascimento | 3:51 |
| 10. | "Uma Amiga" | David Zé | 2:40 |
| 11. | "Farra Na Madrugada" | Jovens do Prenda | 4:44 |
| 12. | "Sémba Braguez" | Os Korimbas | 4:21 |
| 13. | "Fuma" | Dimba Diangola | 4:09 |
| 14. | "Passeio por Luanda" | Alliace Makiadi | 3:53 |
| 15. | "Kazucuta" | Os Bongos | 3:21 |
| 16. | "Eme Lelu" | Quim Manuel O Espirito Santo | 5:06 |
| 17. | "Pica O Dedo" | Africa Ritmos | 4:02 |
| 18. | "Massanga Mama" | Africa Show | 12:41 |
| Total length: | 76:26 | ||
Personnel
edit- Mastering – Nick Robbins
- Graphic design – Dirk Von Manteuffel, Petra Shröder
- Interview translation – Dora Mendes
- Text editing – Vikram Sohonie
- Additional writing – Marissa Moorman
- Compiled by Samy Ben Redjeb
Volume 2 – Hypnosis, Distortions & Other Sonic Innovations 1969–1978
edit| Angola Soundtrack 2 – Hypnosis, Distortions & Other Sonic Innovations 1969–1978 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Compilation album by Various Artists | |
| Released | 2 December 2013 |
| Recorded | 1969–1978 |
| Length | 76:36 |
| Label | Analog Africa |
The second volume of Angola Soundtrack is again focused on guitar-driven popular music, but with a more experimental sound.[11] It was released on 2 December 2013.
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Record Collector | [3] |
| Songlines | [11] |
An article in the Yearbook for Traditional Music described Angola Soundtrack 2 as "a glorious example of minor, mid-tempo guitar workouts that are as danceable as they are melancholic."[12] Record Collector said "that such a wealth of musical riches should have been produced at a time of such instability is nothing short of miraculous."[3]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Avante Juventude" | Os Anjos | 3:34 |
| 2. | "Senhor Doutor" | Quim Manuel O Espirito Santo | 3:37 |
| 3. | "N'Hoca" | Tony Von | 2:57 |
| 4. | "Kia Lomingo" | Urbano de Castro | 3:34 |
| 5. | "Bina" | Jovens do Prenda | 4:16 |
| 6. | "Mabelé" | Oscar Neves | 2:28 |
| 7. | "Agarrem" | Africa Ritmo | 3:05 |
| 8. | "Saudades de Luanda" | Os Kiezos | 2:44 |
| 9. | "Bongololo" | Kito | 3:24 |
| 10. | "N'Ga Kunu M'Butu" | Muhongo | 2:35 |
| 11. | "Lemba" | Negoleiros do Ritmo | 3:28 |
| 12. | "Snipes" | Dicanzas do Prenda | 4:08 |
| 13. | "Bazooka" | Carlo Lamartine & Águias Reais | 3:28 |
| 14. | "Divua Diami" | Cisco | 3:21 |
| 15. | "Meca" | Levis Vercky's | 5:06 |
| 16. | "Chamavo" | Elias Diá Kimuezo | 3:33 |
| 17. | "Olha O Pica" | Africa Ritmo | 3:26 |
| 18. | "Fatimita" | Urbano de Castro | 4:02 |
| 19. | "Inspiraçáo de Nito" | Africa Show 73 | 3:30 |
| 20. | "Despedida" | Dimba Diangola | 6:19 |
| 21. | "Fuguei Na Escola (Para Jogar A Bola)" | Teta Lando | 4:01 |
| Total length: | 76:36 | ||
Personnel
edit- Mastering – Michael Graves
- Graphic design – Frederic Thiphagne
- Front and back cover – Dirk Von Manteufel
- Text editing – Jimmy "Trash" Alexander and Vikram Sohonie
- Vinyl record cutting – Maarten de Boer
- Text translation – Tassia Fernandes, Liticia Brito, and Maria Beatriz Machado
- Additional translation – Pierre Pereira
- Additional interviews and research – Analtino Santos
- Additional information – Marissa Moorman
- Compiled by Samy Ben Redjeb
References
edit- ^ a b Marissa J. Moorman (2008). Intonations: A Social History of Music and Nation in Luanda, Angola, from 1945 to Recent Times. Ohio University Press. ISBN 978-0-8214-1823-9.
- ^ a b c d e Martin Sinnock, "Angola Soundtrack (review)", Songlines, no. 73 (January/February 2011), p. 67, ISSN 1464-8113, retrieved 2024-11-10
- ^ a b c Paul Bowler (2013-12-23), "Angola Soundtrack 2: Hypnosis, Distortions & Other Sonic Innovations 1969- 1978", Record Collector, retrieved 2024-11-10
- ^ a b Richie Troughton (2010-12-02), "Angola Soundtrack: The Unique Sound Of Luanda 1968-1976", The Quietus, retrieved 2024-11-10
- ^ a b c Deanne Sole (2011-01-23), "Various Artists: Angola Soundtrack: The Unique Sound of Luanda 1965-1976", PopMatters, retrieved 2024-11-10
- ^ a b Robin Denselow (2010-11-18), "Various Artists: Angola Soundtrack – The Unique Sound of Luanda 1968-1976 – review", The Guardian, retrieved 2024-11-10
- ^ a b Thom Jurek. Angola Soundtrack: The Unique Sound of Luanda 1968-1976 (review) at AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ a b Julian Cowley, "Angola Soundtrack: The Unique Sound Of Luanda 1968-1976", The Wire, no. 323 (January 2011), p. 73
- ^ Mark Hudson (2011-11-04), "Angola Soundtrack: The Unique Sound of Luanda 1968-1976, CD review", The Telegraph, retrieved 2024-11-10
- ^ Janne Oinonen (2010-11-16), "Angola Soundtrack (review)", The Line of Best Fit, retrieved 2024-11-10
- ^ a b Martin Longley, "Angola Soundtrack 2 (review)", Songlines, no. 98 (March 2014), p. 64, ISSN 1464-8113, retrieved 2024-11-10
- ^ Corey L. Harris (July 2023). "Audio Review – Digging in the Crates with Analog Africa". Yearbook for Traditional Music. 55 (1). International Council for Traditional Music: 81–84. doi:10.1017/ytm.2023.9. Retrieved 2024-11-10.