Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #145426 in Digital Music Album
• Released on: 2007-07-27
• Running time: 0 seconds

Customer Reviews

Stunning!
In his debut US release, Vusi has given us a selection of some truly uplifting and beautiful music. As a veteran of the Apartheid resistance movement, Vusi developed a style of song that at once cried out in anger and, simultaneously, gave hope and courage to the oppressed. Since the election of Nelson Mandela, he has penned songs that urge all the people of South Africa to put the past behind them and get working on the challenging task of rebuiling the "Rainbow Nation," as well as songs that give voice to a nation still struggling with the crises of poverty and inequality. Listening to his music, however, you are struck more by his sense of optimism, hope, and love, than any political message. His guitar playing and entrancing voice are enough to keep you playing this CD again and again. Although there are a few unfortunate omissions from this collection (Kuyobanjani Na?, Khunkhuwane, and Kwa-Zulu among some personal favourites), this is a perfect CD to turn you on to an artist that everyone should know. Kudos to Dave Matthews and the team at ATO for bringing Vusi to American ears!

(P.S. If you like this, keep an ear out for Vusi's friend and collaborator, Louis Mhlanga. They released a wonderful CD together, "Live at the Bassline," which I highly recommend.)

Easygoing Music for a Hard World
If you love Paul Simon, James Taylor and neighboring performers, you'll naturally enjoy this lovely, slightly overproduced album. Fifteen songs and nearly a full hour of songs that radiate peace, optimism, rebellion and quiet grief. Mahlasela is such a natural, fluid guitarist, I wish the producers had not added as much back-up as they did, even though the highly produced approach works at times. The highlight of the album is the heart-wrenching song, "When You Come Back" from the Sundance -winning film, AMANDLA! but I can't really say there's a clunker on the album. The music is quietly joyous and ambient, and the artist's voice is one of the finest ever to have emerged from South African popular music. A pure pleasure recommended without any serious reservations.

Beautiful, uplifting, inspiring
Vusi Mahlasela isn't nicknamed "the Voice" without good reason. Whether he is singing in English or Zulu, he sounds amazing. I listen to this CD over and over. I love it!