| TITLES |
LINER'S
NOTES |
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PRODUCTION NOTES |
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"You
have saved a cockroach from the hens. Now it laughs at you." |
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This
song was not planned to be a part of the CD. Between two
takes, Didi, Bondo et Rigo started to sing it for fun. Christian
and I decided to record it immediately and to leave it a
cappella. |
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He
who comes to the light rejoices. |
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Tshanga
is the Embowassa song on which I worked the most. With the
help of a demo tape recorded in Kinshasa I redid the whole
arrangement on the computer during almost one year. Maybe
I did put to many elements into it, certainly more than
I would do today. Nevertheless the attentive listener can
enjoy the little flutes pygmy-style in the background and
the balafon phrase that follows the rhythm of the stick. |
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The
African tries to lighten his bureden by singing and dancing,
but he doesn't forget it. |
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This
song, which is based upon a rhythm from Bandundu is very
representative of the Embowassa mixture : the singing style
is in the pygmy way, Rigo plays a lyrical violin, and there
are some deep bass drums to enhance the rhythm. |
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How
Mambe went to the fields and was bitten by a snake. |
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Besides
of the heavily arranged tracks we have chosen to include
some acoustic songs on the CD. They reflect the Embowassa
sound as could be heard live in Kinshasa. |
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One
should travel to meet new peoples and experience new feelings. |
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Besides
being a good percussionist/drummer, Bondo has an excellent
voice. The piano is being played alternatively by Rigo and
me. I particularly enjoy the duo acoustic guitar/violin. |
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Don't
laugh at those who suffer, soon you could be among them
because tomorrow belongs to God. |
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This
is the most 'rock' song of the CD : distorted guitars and
aggressive snare. The listener can enjoy the lingala rap
part which was a premiere at that time. |
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Label
Pain
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He
who today is useless may be absolutely necessary tomorrow. |
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Another
Embowassa acoustic song. The rhythm which is being used
is the mutuashi, which I later used in several of my compositions. |
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Contrat
Cassé
(Broken Contract)
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Contracts
between men are often broken but ours is with Jesus. |
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The
lyrics of that song, which may seem surprising, were reflecting
a reality of the former Zaïre where corruption had
reached very high levels. The Embowassa had made that bitter
experience several times with pseudo-managers. |
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Janet
Liberty
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I
am suffering too much with you. I can't give you my heart,
it would make me suffer even more. |
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This
is the only love song on that CD, in an acoustic line-up
and using the rhythm that the Ebowassa had created : the
Mwensobs (an anagram of their name). |
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This
bonus track was recorded during a rehearsal in Liège
in early march 1991.
The sound quality is not studio quality but it is a good
testimony of the original Embowassa sound. |
- @ 2005 Robert Falk