The Mahotella Queens are back after the success of Bazobuya with an
album that their fans will be delighted to experience. Their journey on
a more progressive musical route served them well, but their brilliant,
new album Reign and Shine sees them digging deep into their roots,
doing what they do best, but yet still venturing into new territory.
The Queens’ experimental approach has always broken down misconceptions
of the Mbaqanga genre. Having recently kicked off with some incredible
performances back home, including Live 8 – Africa Standing Tall Against
Poverty concert, they are currently bringing the house down wherever
they go. It's a rare treat to have them back in South Africa, one that
the public is taking advantage of wherever they can and packing out
venues to experience The Queens energetic and unique live show. They
also treated Scottish fans to a uniquely South African cultural
experience when they performed with ‘ One Giant Leap’ at the Live 8
Summit in Gleneagles where world leaders met to discuss important
issues.
Fresh and dynamic, the new album is mostly a capella in style, with
tracks ranging from traditional classics like Thandanani and Town Hall
to mostly brand new, original material. The trio successfully take up
the alto, soprano and tenor roles as vocalists and after thirty years,
they have certainly mastered the art of singing. An album profiling
their vocal genius is long overdue and with only smatterings of guitar
appearing on a few tracks, it is an incredible listening experience for
fans of vocal accomplishment.
