Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars:Rise and Shine (Cumbancha/Ode)

 |   |  1 min read

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars: Dununya
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars:Rise and Shine (Cumbancha/Ode)

These guys certainly have a great back-story: in six years they went from languishing in a refugee camp, through being the subject of a doco (see clip below) to Oprah. They appeared on the Blood Diamond soundtrack, their self-titled debut album won widespread praise and for this one they went to New Orleans and recorded with producer Steve Berlin (of Los Lobos) as well as some local horn players.

So a good story, and when this album fires on the African songs it is stunning. More of that in a minute -- because what is also here are reggae grooves and on Jah Come Down the lyrics link familiar Jamaican lines ("when you put your hand in a lion's mouth") back to the Africa of the slavery days. That song is more effective than the rather lope-by-numbers Jah Mercy.

But the most thrilling tracks are those where the juju guitars and restless percussion hit both the head and heart simultaneously. It also shifts from traditional music (the medleys Dununya and Bute Vange) to original material from the band, notably by frontman and founder Reuben M. Koromoa. His Tamagbondorsu blends high life and juju with cannoning percussion. Terrific.

At 13 tracks and with maybe one or two too many reggae songs this is maybe a little on the long side, but there is no denying how entrancing this music can be.

And of course there is personal politics -- be a good Christian, respect each other, the satirical Goat Smoke Pipe, be confident and have faith -- throughout, but this never sounds like sermon.

More like a joyous celebration of life -- as you might expect given that back-story. 

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   World Music from Elsewhere articles index

ASIF ALI KHAN INTERVIEWED, SORT OF (2014): The gang's all here

ASIF ALI KHAN INTERVIEWED, SORT OF (2014): The gang's all here

Interviewing Sufi qawwali singer Asif Ali Khan at the recent Womad Taranaki was an experience. Not only does he arrive in the small porta-cabin at the side of one of the stages but so does the... > Read more

Rob: Make It Fast, Make It Slow (Soundway)

Rob: Make It Fast, Make It Slow (Soundway)

In a reproduction of what must have been the original cheap cover, this minimal and curiously religious/sexual album by Rob from Ghana has all the look -- and resonance -- of a rare reggae album... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

Various Artists: Sub Signals Vol 2; Selected and Mixed by Gaudi

Various Artists: Sub Signals Vol 2; Selected and Mixed by Gaudi

Using material by the likes of Pitch Black, David Harrow, The Orb, African Head Charge and Subset among others -- plus two tracks of his own featuring Groove Armada and Steel Pulse –... > Read more

JUDY COLLINS: WILDFLOWERS, CONSIDERED (1967): Respect it, can't love it

JUDY COLLINS: WILDFLOWERS, CONSIDERED (1967): Respect it, can't love it

Elsewhere's shelves are weighed down by albums, some shameful, some in shameful covers, others just plain odd and some unusual 10'' records. There are also excellent records of course, the rare... > Read more