Friday, June 4, 2010

Mensy's "New Sounds"




For many years I've wanted to know the identity of the Camerounian group Mensy, whose
scorching tune "Ane Ya" opened up the 1982 compilation LP Sound d'Afrique II (Mango MLPS 9754).

I'm sorry to say that 28 years of research have turned up nothing about Mensy, but many moons ago I was thrilled to discover a whole LP by the group in a long-lost African record store in DC. New Sounds of Africa Vol. 1 (Discafrique DARL 021) contains not only a longer, uncut version of "Ane Ya" but three more slices of Afro-funk that make your typical deracinated World Music™ sound like nursery rhymes!

As the LP sleeve contains no recording information at all I wish I could tell you who the nimble guitarist on "Ane Ya" is or who's responsible for the brilliant horn work of "Sotuc." I'll just have to let you hear for yourself. Enjoy!

Mensy - Ane Ya

Mensy - Dis-Le Moi

Mensy - Mari Na

Mensy - Sotuc

Download New Sounds of Africa Vol. 1 as a zipped file here.

10 comments:

Daryl said...

I remember those days listening to all Mensy's musics and afro punk music but right now, I am listening to Somali Music, I never knew that living in Somali can make me be addicted to their music! Thanks for sharing these musics to listen to past songs!

Ronald said...

I don't think Mensy is a group but a singer. On a Mekongo President lp I have a guy called Minsy does the back up vocals and plays guitar. It could be the same person as Mensy and perhaps the name on the Mekongo lp was a typing error, I think it is the same person because the track Ana Ye was written by Nsizoa and the co writer on 4 tracks of the Mekongo lp is also Nsizoa.

The sound of the Mekongo lp is like the sound of the Mensy album, maybe it was recorded by the same musicians. Eventhough it was release on Richard Dick's Discafrique label it was certainly not produced by him, I think he must have leased it.

John B. said...

You could be right about that, Ronald. Actually the LP label lists the artist as "Minsy." No song credits, though. I just assumed Mensy was a group because it SOUNDS like a group, not just a singer with backup musicians.

Anonymous said...

Heyo John B, found your blog today, pretty sounds from Africa. I'm your fan,
thanks for sharing........

greetings from Austria.....

Anonymous said...

sphynx you l'egyptien!!

DJ Carl Hamm said...

Hey there! thanks as always for the great music.. Im a big fan of your site, and also a DJ here in Richmond VA, might you be able to give me a tour of this long lost record store in DC sometime? : )

Anonymous said...

No words so beauty...
How is the back sleeve looking?
What's the order of the songs?
Thanks anyway.
Great music

David said...

What a find! Great music, and a mystery to boot. Loved this one, thank you!

Anonymous said...

sounds like it could be Serge Minsy, who played keyboards as session musician (for Mekongo President) and issued a few solo albums as well. Some of his tunes are on my youtube channel, search for RealC38.

Anonymous said...

It's just Mekongo President in his album "Bikutsi 80" AZEN 1083.
Song "Kare ma"
I don't know why it has been renamed.

Please check : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKX068oyPmg