This recording features a selection of current artists from Mozambique in southern Africa. Wired for Sound is the project of Simon Attwell, founding member of South African band Freshlyground, and radio producer Kim Winter in collaboration with Freshlyground guitarist Julio Sigauque.
The album was made in connection with the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA). The producers put together a mobile 4×4 recording studio, capable of traveling to the most isolated regions of 2013’s destination, Mozambique. The mobile studio runs off a solar panel and battery system, allowing the producers unrestricted access to musicians who are not able to travel. Recording locations were chosen according to acoustic quality, aesthetic appeal and cultural relevance.
“Most of the tracks we recorded are the artist’s original material tweaked and worked on in collaboration with Wired For Sound or created from scratch for the Wired For Sound recording,” Simon Attwell clarifies. Artists receive copies of their tracks, which allows them to promote themselves through community radio and Soundcloud accounts.
“Wired for Sound – Mozambique is an album that exhibits the best collaborative songs recorded over two months in northern Mozambique, showcasing traditional instrumentalists, contemporary singer songwriters, MCs, choirs and bands,” says Attwell. “The album covers a wide range of genres spanning rap beats and African style zouk to Marrabenta and Chimurenga rhythms with several haunting instrumental pieces.”
The music selection is very diverse, ranging from marrabenta to gospel and rap influences. Album highlights include the rootsy ‘Cinyungwe’ by 25-year old Marcelino Banda Mpombeza; the repetitive trance-like Música do Cantinho by Alfredo, who plays the a type of zither with a gourd resonator called Pankwé. This song features Derek Gripper.
Other high spots include the engaging Marry Very Well by young duo Academico and Pimento from Ibo island; the chimurenga-influenced ‘Mazano’ by Mateus Mapinhane Charles, featuring Massimba Lanfa; the great blues piece ‘Takunha Dilani’ by Sozinho Ernesto K. Banda, featuring Marcelino Banda Mpombeza & Peter Cohen.
John Issa Band attracts your attention with their vibrant homemade electro-acoustic instrumentation. Additional highpoints include the delightful marrabenta of ‘Lavu Yu Dzuna’ by Modesto; and the dreamy Pankwé and trumpet sound of ‘Chuva’ by Liquissone Juliasse Nhamata, featuring Lee Thompson.
“We were fortunate to collaborate with some of Southern Africa’s most well regarded musicians to produce the album,” adds Winter, “Zolani Mahola from Freshlyground, blues guitarist Albert Frost, classical guitarist Derek Gripper and saxophonist Buddy Wells all lent their experience to the project which has burnished some remarkable talent.”
Wired for Sound’s long-term goal is to help develop recording infrastructure for local musicians. “Wired for Sound takes the tracks back to South Africa for further collaboration with established musicians, resulting in a full album, the proceeds of which go towards creating basic recording and production facilities at the community radio stations,” corroborates Winter.
The final outcome is an album, a radio documentary, a video promo and a selection of photo essays. “In addition to this, the project allows Wired for Sound to deliver feedback to OSISA regarding the lives of young people in specific places and the status and challenges of community radio in the areas we have visited,” adds Attwell.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
