Reviewed by Phil Thomson

Just when you think you know what is going on, tuning your ear in to those most recognisable of African voices, the smoky, fragile tremulous leads, that amazing Joseph Shabalala touch, out of nowhere there's a surprise: Dolly Parton. After a couple of complex, harmonic acapella opening tracks, the "Nine To Five" lady joins the party, agonising her way through Dylan's "Knocking On Heaven's Door". I thought I would be purist about it, but no; I have to say, it works, especially when it is followed by a quite wonderful cover of Edwin Hawkins' "Oh Happy Day" and then Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready", this time with Phoebe Snow as guest lead. The fact is, the pop star guests were queuing up to join the South African ambassadors on this 1997 album, and who can blame them. Probably I wasn't ready for the eclectic nature of the play list, but then, it hardly matters when that line up also includes the likes of Joan Baez, Bonnie Raitt, Simon Buthelelzi, Lou Rawls and Teaspoon Ndelu. I could go on. There's a mildly ponderous run through Thomas A Dorsey's "Take My Hand Precious Lord" and a mystifying stab at Billy Joel's "River Of Dreams" - see, told you it was eclectic - and we are treated to a version of the Staple Singers' "I'll Take You There" as if the boys wanted to get it over with, so I am not too sure they should be pushed into soul and gospel. You know they can handle it, but reduced to b/v "oohs" and "ahs" while someone else takes the lead on, say, Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang" just doesn't cut it. Ultimately, Ladysmith Black Mambazo's unique place in contemporary music is somewhat diminished by such strange musical compromise. Yet they are clearly without peer in their native tongue; the last track, "Ilungelo Ngelakho" like one or two others here, hypnotically drawing us into a world we are then denied by the fact that there is no translation on the sleeve.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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