Shaka Zulu - Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Advantages: Beautiful a cappella, strong voices.
Disadvantages: Lanuage may be a bit of a barrier.

...Most of you will know Ladysmith Black Mambazo from the record-breaking Graceland album by Paul Simon, the 'Heinz Baked Beans' advert that did the BBC circuit about a year ago, and the 'Landrover Discovery' advert that was aired about six months ago. If you are still unsure what I am referring to, it is the sound of fifteen male voices singing a cappella in Zulu, and sometimes in English. I know that it may be difficult to be tempted to buy an album that is largely sung in a language that defies understanding, because admittedly, not an awful lot of people in the UK speak or understand Zulu. But don't allow that to put you off. These gentlemen have the unique talent of being able to sing, and very beautifully too, completely unaccompanied by musical instruments, and with such goose-pimply harmonising that the sounds will conjure up... Read review

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Advantages: see article
Disadvantages: see article

...An album that spends a lot of time on my CD player,not a bad song on the whole album.The album has the classic Paul Simon writing and the harmonics of the African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. A number of hit singles from the album notably 'Diamonds on the sole of her feet' and the one everyone knows 'Call me Al'. Although Ladysmith play a big part in the album there are a number of African artists on the album who give it a very grassroots sound. An album well worth the money although its now available on Nice Price - buy it.... Read review

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Advantages: Shows us what we are missing musically - superb music at all times
Disadvantages: none to be found

...Ladysmith Black Mambazo - ‘ The Ultimate Collection ‘. Do I hear you say ‘say who ,never heard of them !’ ? I say you must have heard of them , so here’s three clues : 1) Paul Simon ( Gracelands album ) 2) Heinz Soup TV adverts 3) Rugby World Cup Theme By now you must have an idea of whom this op is about , so lets be on with it ... Quick Background Thing..... Ladysmith Black Mambazo leteraly came from a dream by one Joseph Shabalala . From this vision in which children sang and danced , he gathered some friends / family , and formed the group . The time of this forming was early 1960’s . The place : Africa . Joseph is a ZULU , and the group is part of the time honoured Zulu singing tradition of Isicathamiya ( literal meaning : to walk or step on one’s toes lightly ) , whose roots go back to the early years of the twentieth... Read review

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