Congotronics 2: Buzz'n'Rumble From The Urb'n'Jungle

A double disc set, CD and DVD - In the wake of the Konono N.1 album, comes a fresh selection of even more amazing sounds, courtesy of no less than seven electro-traditional bands from Kinshasa, all especially recorded and produced by Crammed’s Vincent Kenis :

Sobanza Mimanisa - Kasai Allstars - Kisanzi Congo - Masanka Sankayi - Bolia We Ndenge - Basokin -
Konono N°1 - Tulu
These bands all draw on traditional trance music, to which they’ve incorporated heavily-distorted sounds generated by DIY amplification of their instruments... just like Konono N°1, except that, as the musicians come from various geographical and cultural backgrounds (Kasai, Lake Mai Ndombe, Bacongo province), they use very diverse rhythms, timbres and instrumentation: the trademark electrified thumb pianos and megaphones are joined by an array of buzzing drums, swirling guitars and hypnotic balafons.

"This is rock sucked back to the continent of its birth to be granted a glorious resurrection" (The Word, UK)

"This shows more variety to the Kinshasa scene, but it's the brutality of Masanka Sankayi, Basokin and Konono that lingers" (Mojo, UK).

"Good news: there's more where Konono come from, and Crammed Discs knows where to find it !" (Dusted, USA)

"Hair-raisingly beautiful" (All Music Guide, USA)

"One of the wildest records of the year, as distorted and dirty, beautiful and funky as James Brown or Fela Kuti" (The Observer, UK)

"Basokin is the sound of distortion zombies coming down the road to kill us all. It's relentless… wonderful…" (Pop Matters, USA)

DISC 2 = DVD