Human is Johnny Clegg‘s 20th studio album, not counting any best-of compilations. Clegg was born in England and grew up largely in South Africa. He caused a big stir in the ’70s and ’80s by fronting Juluka, a mixed-race band and singing in English and Zulu. In the ’90s he formed a new band, Savuka, that was a little more pop-oriented. He has had some huge international hits, mostly in Europe. In my limited experience, his music ranges from very rootsy to synth-heavy Afro-pop to New Age spirituality. This album hits all three of those bases.
I tend to prefer the rootsier end of the spectrum. Those are mostly on the second half of Human. Among the best is “Congo,” about the civil wars and resource exploitation in that country. The chorus is in Zulu and there’s a nice horn section. Earlier on the album, “Asilazi” follows a similar pattern, with English verses and Zulu chorus. This one’s in a fast 6/8, with lyrics about how “it’s so hard” to reconcile life as a person and an artist.
The last two songs are my favorites. “Nyembezi (Tears)” is all in Zulu, a song in a traditional meter on themes of tribal marriage and family conflicts. On the verses, the singing is backed by a fingerpicked electric guitar, with handclaps and mbira (thumb piano) for rhythm, and it kicks into a rocking bridge before returning to the original scheme. “Magumede,” a traditional dancing song, is also sung in Zulu, accompanied only by drums for the first two verses, then some acoustic guitar, bass and percussion are added.
The rest is kind of a mixed bag for my tastes. “All I Got Is You” is a nice bopping township-style rocker, heavy on the downbeat with that thin high electric guitar picking over heavy bass; it’s catchy but repetitive, with the title repeated numerous times. “Give Me The Wonder” mixes a North African sound with Europop chorus and lyrics. There are a couple of ballads with English lyrics that I find fairly banal, and some social-consciousness songs like “Love In The Time of Gaza,” a danceable rocker with didactic lyrics and lots of synth.
It’s no crime to say that the best part of the album is its artwork, reproductions of the paintings and wooden sculptures of South African artist Norman Catherine. The works perfectly illustrate the “human” theme of the album. You can find more of it on Catherine’s website.
If you like some or all of Johnny Clegg’s musical styles, there’s something for you on Human. It’s not his best work in my opinion, but he’s earned a lot of respect and I’m glad he’s still carrying the torch. As I write this in early April 2011, Clegg and his band are making a rare U.S. tour. Check his website for a gig near you.
(Appleseed, 2010)
Comments