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1989… and Mango Groove explodes onto the SA music scene with their first album, a culmination of several years of false starts and the sorts of experiences so typically associated with a multi-generational, non-racial band trying to make its way through South Africa in the 80’s. This release is a glorious collection of hits and memories, which also features some brand new tracks, the first from Mango Groove in several years. Musically, when one first thinks of Mango Groove, certain key things come to mind: Claire Johnston’s inimitable and soaring vocals, punchy swing rhythms, gumboots and pennywhistles.
With this in mind, the selection of songs on this album reflects a different and perhaps more introspective side to the group. And this is where the beauty of this album lies… no Dance Sum More or Hometalk or Special Star in sight… don’t get me wrong, those were and still are iconic SA anthems, but most people will only ever know Mango Groove for those songs. The songs on here show a different side to the band, showcasing the slower songs, the love songs and lullabies that were scattered across the 6 Mango Groove albums of the last 15 years. There’s ’Moments Away,’’ a loving ‘’tribute’’ to Abdullah Ibrahim’s ‘’Mannenburg’’ (DID YOU KNOW FACT: the hammers on the grand piano featured on the track were covered in thumbtacks, destroying the piano in the process!). There’s the hauntingly beautiful ’Love Is’’ (DID YOU KNOW FACT: the song was performed at the worldwide broadcast of Nelson Mandela’s inauguration in 1995.) Also present is ‘’Taken for a Moment,’’ a tribute to David Webster, the assassinated Anti-Apartheid activist and ‘’Gone Too Soon,’’ the last collaboration of the late, great Mahlatini (Simon Nkabinde). And announcing the beginning of the next chapter of a great South African Story, there’s ‘’Ulale Kanjani’’ and ‘’Southern Sky,’’ all-new Mango Groove songs…
There are two stand-out tracks for me though. The first one is “Africa Blue,” one of Claire’s solo hits, now performed by the whole band. That funny feeling you have inside when you listen to it, it’s called pride… brilliant local music doesn’t get better than this. And the other truly incredible track is “Another Country.” Maybe Mango Groove could see beyond 1994. Maybe they could see beyond 2006. Maybe they could see Another Country, one where we all live together and celebrate our cultural diversity. These songs form an essential part of that unique and complicated metamorphosis that we as South Africans experienced through the momentous, poignant, troubling and ultimately liberating times of ‘80’s and 90’s South Africa.
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