Monday, April 29, 2019

Kinshasa Acoustic: Orchestre Sim-Sim International



Here is the second of three "unorthodox" Congolese albums released by the Swiss label Plainisphare in the mid-'80s. Nsimba Vuvu was a former associate of Manu Dibango and assembled Orchestre Sim-Sim International from members of a number of bands then extant in Kinshasa. Apparently their only recording, Nasiwedi (Plainisphare ZONE Z-4, 1986) continues the casual ambiance of the first album in this series, Kinshasa!, by Kawende et ses Copains (Plainisphare ZONE Z-1, 1984), which I posted a few days ago. Apart from one electric guitar, Nasiwedi is also acoustic and refreshingly casual in its approach, almost like a recorded jam session.

Researching this blog I often have occasion to consult my collection of back issues of The Beat, an indespensible magazine that was published in the US from the early '80s to the early 2000s. Volume 6, Number 4 from 1987 contains a rather dismissive review of the Plainsphare series by Elizabeth Sobo, who did admit to enjoying Orchestre Sim-Sim's album:

By far the best of the three Plainisphare contributions is the one by Orchestre Sim-Sim. Its opening selection, "Nasiwedi," combines Congolese guitars reminiscent of the Le Peuple productions of years past, highlife-style horns, sharp percussion, a fascinating, catchy beat and two rather ordinary (but adequate) male voices. Perhaps the best track and the one closest to contemporary Kinshasa music is "Sekele," a captivating dance number sung in Lingala. "Kokiko," another welcome addition to the album, is slower, with an East African flavor and alternating male and female lead vocals. 
Sobo seems to have a rather dogmatic view of how "real" African music is supposed to sound. As I noted about Kinshasa!, these three recordings, while different from the Congolese music we usually hear, are undoubtedly authentic and probably representative of a whole stratum of sounds that is seldom recorded. In a few days I'll post the final entry in the Plainisphare series, an album by Ali & Tam's and Orchestre Malo.

Orchestre Sim-Sim International - Nasiwedi

 Orchestre Sim-Sim International - Eh! Ya Ya







Download Nasiwedi as a zipped file here.


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6 comments:

  1. StefanApril 30, 2019 at 11:35 AM

    Well done. I appreciate you spot light and comment on that kind of music... Your post makes me also think, that we might not know all to much about the diversity and richness of the two Congos traditional and modern music spectrum yet, since the rumba seems to have overpowerd it all for a very long time...

    I noticed an Angolan twist involvement in the Nakupenda song..., and that did not jump in because of the Swiss producers of that record...

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  2. DJ DaudiApril 30, 2019 at 9:13 PM

    Thanks, John. I have looked forward to hearing this album.

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  3. roberthMay 1, 2019 at 3:57 AM

    thank u this sounds like it will be great!
    robert

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  6. Jonny FrontrowMarch 7, 2021 at 12:33 PM

    John - thank you for posting this! I have the album - purchased in Wash, DC, in late 80's and sadly selling it along with my whole record collection. It's the only LP I needed to transfer to digital, which was a little too much of a PITA for just one record. I Was seeking a digital copy of this and could not find it anywhere ... until I stumbled upon your fabulous blog!

    Any way to purchase or trade (have hundreds of live shows - but not many African musicians, tho I do have some Abdullah Ibrahim/Dollar Brand and - probably more to your interests - two 1986 Fela soundboards in lossless FLAC that I'd be happy to send your way) for a lossless copy of this?

    Either way fantastic blog and can't wait to explore and learn about the wide range of music from Africa that you champion and explore.

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