The Very Best Offers Authentic Afro-Pop
Collaboration between Esau Mwamwaya and British DJ duo Radioclit yields entertaining results
The Very Best
Warm Heart of Africa
Released on Oct 06, 2009
Thanks to the explosion that was Vampire Weekend, Afro-pop has become quite popular. However, there’s something that seems slightly inauthentic about a bunch of white hipsters singing about Cape Cod and prep school over poppy, ethnic beats. The Very Best picks up where Vampire Weekend stops and takes their sound beyond “Afro-pop” influence, into a space that celebrates Mwamwaya’s Malwai roots.
The Very Best started in London, when Mwamwaya met Radioclit’s manager and hooked up with the duo. They started making some covers of indie songs, but sang them in Chichewa, the native language of Malwai. Obviously, people started paying attention to the guys who were singing Vampire Weekend and M.I.A. songs in a different language. Their sophomore release Warm Heart of Africa builds on an already energetic sound that makes you forget that you can’t quite sing along on the tracks.
Many artists might worry about the general public appreciating this authentic sound, rather than a watered-down version, but The Very Best jumps right in. Because of the recognizable samples (like Architecture in Helsinki’s “Heart It Races”) and the creativity present on each track—i.e. the bunch of excited kids singing along on “Kamphopo” and the strings on “Kada Manja”—you can’t help but want to make this your go-to party music.
They’re also not afraid to call on famous friends to make their tracks even more catchy and recognizable—both M.I.A. and Ezra Koenig make appearances on the album. Interestingly enough though, it’s slightly off-putting to hear English on Warm Heart of Africa. Both of their tracks come near the end of the album, and by that point, you’re so used to hearing a different language and loving it that it seems like The Very Best added them just to maintain a pop sensibility.
However, M.I.A.’s track “Rain Dance” is one of the strongest songs. She tends to steal the spotlight on any track she guests on, and “Rain Dance” is not an exception. But, The Very Best provide her with one of the best beats on the album. It truly feels like you’re in the middle of a drum circle, and M.I.A. is trying to command the weather (and everything else around her) to bend to her will.
Though none of their tracks could be classified as “slow jams,” I’ve got a special spot in my heart for “Julia.” They could have easily made an album of drum circle tracks, but they slowed it down for this song, and the slower tempo shows off Mwamwaya’s voice. It’s not anything particularly spectacular, but his effortless sound is a welcome departure from all the singers who feel like they have to rip their chords to shreds to get any attention.
With summer winding down, you’ll want to be playing this for all your autumnal festivities. It’s a great collection of listenable tracks that possess a fascinating, contradictory feel of laid-back energy.
High Point
I won’t lie—I’ve listened to “Rain Dance” about 30 times since I got the album a couple of days ago. To say it’s addicting would be an understatement.
Low Point
I’m not a fan of the heavy synthesizers at the start of “Chalo.” While the song isn’t awful, I just dislike how the synthesizers seem to be the only point of interest on the track.
Posted by Alyssa Vincent on Sep 29, 2009 @ 7:00 am
