The sensational, distortion-fuelled, electrified traditional music created by the Kinshasa-based Konono N°1 has been enthusiastically adopted by the international electronica, world music and alternative rock scenes across the globe, and championed by artists such as Beck, Wilco and… Björk, who invited them to appear on her latest album. This live album followed their debut "Congotronics", and was is nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award.
Konono N°1 was founded over 25 years ago by Mingiedi, a virtuoso of the likembé (the traditional instrument sometimes called “sanza” or “thumb piano”, consisting of metal rods attached to a resonator). The band’s line-up includes three electric likembés (bass, medium and treble), equipped with hand-made microphones built from magnets salvaged from old car parts, and plugged into amplifiers. There’s also a rhythm section which uses traditional as well as makeshift percussion (pans, pots and car parts), three singers, three dancers and a peculiar sound system including megaphones dating from the colonial period, which they call “lance-voix” (‘voice-throwers’). The band's repertoire draws largely on Bazombo trance music, to which they’ve had to incorporate the originally-unwanted distorsions of their sound system.
World music, electronica and avant-rock aficionados have all been equally amazed by this otherworldly music, which has driven the international press to come up with some surprising comparisons (from Can and Krautrock to Jimi Hendrix, Lee Perry and proto-techno!…).
Konono N°1 earned a BBC Award for World Music, prestigious publications ranging from Newsweek, Rolling Stone, The New York Times and The Times (UK) enthused about their sound, and they were massively adopted by the alternative rock scene in the US: they played festivals such as Coachella, and the album was quoted among the best records of the year by countless blogzines as well as by artists like Beck, Wilco and… Björk, who ended up inviting them to appear on her "Volta" album, and to perform with her on her 2007 New York shows.
Reviews:
Somewhere between the motorik Kraut-rock repetition of prime Can, a Brazilian carnival and pre-historic acid house” (The Word, UK)
A blend of traditional Bazombo folk with gritty sound distortions that would make Jimi Hendrix proud… Dizzying, danceable and frenetic… (Newsweek, USA)
Sounds like no other type of African music… The sophisticated brutality of Konono N°1 leaves permanent traces in the conscience of the listener” (Les Inrockuptibles, France)
The frenzy and locomotion of prime '70s Miles or a Krautrock jam ! (The Village Voice, USA)
Album Of the Month… Unbelievable… (Mojo, UK)
