Saturday, July 12, 2008

Mavuela Somo's AFFAIRE MOUGOYE

OK OK OK!
I give in to the pressure at last! Ever since I played a song from it some months back, I cannot say how many people have asked for this album. It is apparently just impossible to find, out of print and gone forever.







Maybe every copy save mine was destroyed in a warehouse fire in Gabon? That is a joke of course, but like a tiger, this album is elusive and it is a killer. Mavuela Somo was with Papa Wemba from when they were in Zaiko Langa Langa, and the Yoka Lokole and Isifi Lokole groups and beyond. This solo LP was recorded on the Gabonese Voxigrave label and has a an most entirely unique sound that combines elements of the Langa Langa family with Minzoto Wella-Wella and more. Amazing guitar work too, though the credits give us no clue who played.
So enjoy.
The first lucky 100 can download here:
https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTdHRGw5UnEwMEd4dnc9PQ
If you have more information on this artist or this album, please add your comments.

7 comments:

  1. Thank you David! listening now ... it sounds familiar, but also new to my ears ... much appreciated .. chris a

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  2. Chris:Thanks for your comment.
    I hope that you'll visit the Ambiance Congo Audio Archives, download a past program now and again. I think you'll find much more "new and familiar" music!
    The tracklists can be read too, so if you hear something you like, you'll know what to go and look for!

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  3. very good songs music congo-zaire is the best in africa with rumba

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  4. How old is this album? But I can hear the name Lele, a guitarist who died in 1984 or 1985.

    The voices and guitars sound a little like orchestre Kiam, a congolese group circa 1974-1975.
    It's unfortunate that there's no list of who played this album.

    But some voices, tenor and baritone, seem like Kanza Bayone (from Kiam and Yoka Lokole), Yenga-Yenga Junior or even Bumba Massa.
    As usual Mavuela Somo does a behind Bass voice.

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  5. th man:
    I cannot recall exactly when I bought this album, but it was certainly before 1990.
    I also hear Lele's name called and I think that the guitar work is superb. I agree that it is too bad that this record - like so very many others - carries no credits on the sleeve. I had not made the Kiam connection. Thanks for that! Great observation.

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  6. HI MY NAME IS LEONARDO MENESES I HAVE BEEN SEEKING THIS LP Mavuela Somo's AFFAIRE MOUGOYE FOR A MANY YEARS BUT I HAVEN´T, THE ONLY PLACE WAS HERE BUT THE LINK WAS REMOVED. I DONT KNOW IF YOU CAN PUT THIS LP AGAIN.. BUT I WOULD BE VERY KIND.. THANKS..

    SINCERELY LEONARDO MENESES
    FROM BARRAMQUILLA - COLOMBIA

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  7. Hi David - I thought I'd look for some info on this great record, and found this on the french site zaikoafriblog.

    Yannivk Mavuela

    je suis le filles de Mavuela somo,si vous cherche des info sur ses cordonnees,veuillez me contacter sur mon adress email.Que dieu vos garde et bonne annee 2010 a tous. Y.M ( yannick.mavuela@hotmail.com )
    Posté par yannick Mavuela, 08 janvier 2010 à 19:29 I hope that this is useful to you .Best wishes.

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